Mahavishnu - Kerala Mural Archive

Kadavil Thrikkovil, KTK_P029 — Vishnu: detail view 2 of 2

Detail Photos

Kadavil Thrikkovil, KTK_P029 — Vishnu: detail view 1 of 2

Deity: Vishnu Location: Kadavil Thrikkovil Sreekrishna Swamy Temple Theme: Non-narrative

Mahavishnu is depicted in this panel. He's having his four arms, each holding the Shangu chakra, gada and lotus flower or Padma. He's wearing lot of jewelry. His lower garment is yellow in color. He's standing atop a floral pedestal. Indra, and another deva is being depicted in this panel. They are holding their palms together in Anjali mudra. There are around, five or six devas apart from the two visible ones.

Narrative

Textual Source: Non-narrative
Mythological Tale: Maha Vishnu is among the three supreme gods in Hinduism. He is always depicted with four arms, carrying a shankhu, chakra, gada and padma. He is in charge of sustaining the balance of the universe. He has taken several avatars or incarnations to maintain the equilibrium of the world. His consorts are Sridevi and Bhoodevi.
Episode: Non-narrative

Iconography

Primary Deity/Figure: Vishnu
Secondary Figures: Indra
Iconographic Form: Mahavishnu
Iconographic Attributes: Green-skinned Vishnu, wearing yellow dhoti with red and green bands in the upper portion of it, long black hair, crown on his forehead. His upper right hand holds the chakra. His upper left hand holds the shankhu or conch. His lower right hand holds the padma or lotus flower, and his lower left hand holds the mace or gada. The background is yellowish-red in color. Above, green-skinned Indra, with eyes all over his body, wearing bangles, necklaces, crown, earrings, and rings. He is wearing a flower on his long black hair. Beside him is another deva, golden-skinned, smiling, with earrings, long black hair, and a crown. Between them is another green-skinned deva. His face is only partially visible. There are also four or five crowns visible above the figures, suggesting the existence of more devas in the scene.
Visual & Formal Features: Facial expression detail, Hand gesture (mudra), Ornamentation
Rasa: Shanta

Spatial & Architectural

Zone within Temple: Sanctum
Position in Pradakshina Sequence: 29
Adjacent Panels: Srirama and Nataraja

Condition & Documentation

Condition: Good
Deterioration Type: Pigment loss
Restoration Status: Unrestored
Documentation Type: DSLR full panel
Permission Basis: Temple priest
Date of Documentation: 15/07/2024
Artist: Unknown
Identifier: KTK_P029
Rights / Notes: These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.