Ramayana - Kerala Mural Archive

Detail Photos

Deity: Sreeraman Location: Mattancherry Palace Theme: Ramayana Visual Feature: Background pattern Visual Feature: Facial expression detail Visual Feature: Hand gesture (mudra)Visual Feature: Ornamentation

This is the first of the panels in the Ramayana sequence depicted in the Ramayana Hall of Mattancherry Palace. In this panel it shows the circumstances in which Rama and his brothers were born. At the top left of the panel, Dasaratha is explaining to his minister Sumantra about the need to conduct Putrakameshti Yaga in order to attain heirs for his kingdom. Below, on the bottom left of the panel, is sage Rishyasringa performing the Putrakameshti Yaga. God Agni arises from the sacrificial flames with the vessel filled with payasam (or a specific kind of sweet). Lord Vishnu is seen in the backdrop blessing the yajna. To the right of this scene, Dasharatha is holding the payasam in his hand, giving it to his wives. Sumantra stands nearby. On the top, right of the panel, is the famous prasavaranga, or the scene of giving birth, depicted explicitly. Three of the queens are shown as giving birth to four of the princes of Dasharatha. Kausalya and Kaikaiyi giving birtb to one child each while Sumithra giving birth to twins.

Iconography

Primary Deity/Figure: Sreeraman
Secondary Figures: Agni, Dasharathan, Kaikayi, Kausalya, Rishyasringan, Sumanthran, Sumithra, Vishnu
Iconographic Form: Sreeraman (Vishnu's reincarnation)
Iconographic Attributes: Depicts the birth of Sreerama and his brothers; Dasharatha is green-skinned bearded and wearing a red upper garment seated on a throne. His right hand is held up in vyakhyana mudra; To his right is Kaikeyi, golden skinned and decked in jewellery; Golden-skinned bearded Sumanthrar is the minister who is listening to Dasharatha speak; Half-human, half deer Rishyasringa is green skinned and is depicted as conducting the yaga; Dasharatha stands behind him with hands folded in anjali mudra; Agni is yellow-skinned and has a uruli or vessel filled with payasam over his head; Green-skinned Vishnu looks on, he has four arms two of the upper arms are holding the conch shell and chakra. Lower hands holding a lotus flower and gada or mace. Kausalya green-skinned; Kaikaiyi golden-skinned and Sumithra green-skinned stand side by side, waiting to accept the payasam or sweet brought by Agni; the birth scene is depicted with the three new mothers placing their hands around the shoulders of midvives, two on either sides of the three women. There is a midwife each standing underneath the women in birthing position, recieving the green-skinned newborn Rama, white-skinned newborn Bharata and the newborn twins green-skinned Shatrukhna and yellow-skinned Lakshmana.
Rasa: Shanta

Spatial & Architectural

Temple: Palace interior
Zone within Temple: Ramayana Chamber
Position in Pradakshina Sequence: Not Applicable
Adjacent Panels: Ramayana

Narrative

Textual Source: Ramayana
Mythological Tale: Ramayana is the story of Lord Rama and Sita, who are considered the reincarnations of Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi, respectively. Vishnu is believed to take this form in order to slay the demon Ravana. Ramayana follows the tale of Rama being born to the king of Ayodhya, Dasharatha. Rama has three other brothers Lakshmana, Bharata, Shatrughna. When Rama came of age, he was asked to take the throne and be coronated. Kaikeyi, Rama's stepmother, wanted her own son Bharata to be the next king. So she asked Dasharatha for two boons: one is to send Rama to exile in the forest, and the other is to make Bharata the king. Bound by his promise, Dasharatha had to ask Rama to leave, to which he agreed. Rama was accompanied by his wife Sita and Lakshmana, his brother. Together they began their exile by staying in the forest. Bharata, when he came to know of this, refused to take the throne and began following Rama to the forest. Rama refused to let Bharata stay in the forest. Instead, Bharata left with Rama's slippers and placed it on the throne and ruled on Rama's behalf until Rama came back. While at the forest, Rama had several adventures with different rakshasas or demons, and his wife Sita was even kidnapped by Ravana, who took her to Lanka. In order to retrieve Sita, he formed alliances with Sugriva, the monkey king, or the king of the Vanara, who helped build a bridge across the ocean, connecting the mainland to Lanka. The army of Rama reached Lanka and with the help of Sugriva's forces and Hanuman (the monkey god devoted to Rama), defeated Ravana and returned back to Ayodhya. Valmiki wrote this tale into the epic titled 'Ramayana'.
Episode: Balakandam
Position within Narrative Sequence: 1 out of 10

Condition & Documentation

Condition: Good
Deterioration Type: Pigment loss
Restoration Status: Unrestored
Documentation Type: DSLR full panel
Permission Basis: ASI permission
Date of Documentation: 01/08/2024
Artist: Unknown
Identifier: MCP_P025
Rights / Notes: These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.