Siva Vishnu Sandarshanam - Kerala Mural Archive

Alangad, ASG_P023 — Shiva, Vishnu, Parvathy, Lakshmi: full panel view

Detail Photos

Alangad, ASG_P023 — Shiva, Vishnu, Parvathy, Lakshmi: detail view

Deity: Lakshmi Deity: Parvathi Deity: Shiva Deity: Vishnu Location: Alangad Sree Santana Gopala Murthy Temple Theme: Non-narrative Visual Feature: Background pattern Visual Feature: Facial expression detail Visual Feature: Hand gesture (mudra)Visual Feature: Ornamentation

The image shows Mahavishnu sitting atop an elephant, holding Lakshmi by the waist. She is placing something on the alms bowl extended by Shiva. Shiva is sitting with Parvati in his lap over his mount, Nandi. There is also baby Ganapathi sitting on Parvati's lap.

Iconography

Primary Deity/Figure: Shiva, Vishnu, Parvathy, Lakshmi
Secondary Figures: Ganapathi
Iconographic Form: Shiva, Vishnu, Parvathy, Lakshmi
Iconographic Attributes: Green-skinned four-armed Mahavishnu with the conch shell and chakra in his upper arms. His lower arms are holding onto the waist of Mahalakshmi. He is wearing a yellow lower garment, a crown on his head, yellow and white uttariya, garland of flowers and jewelry. Lakshmi is sitting on top of the elephant near Vishnu. She is wearing a reddish saree with a yellowish blouse. She has a crown on her head, and is holding her hands out, placing something onto the bowl that Shiva has extended. The elephant is grayish in color. Shiva is four-armed. He is holding a trident in his upper right arm and a shankhu or conch in his upper left arm. He is holding the trunk of the elephant using one of his lower arms. The other lower arm is holding out a bowl, which is extended towards Lakshmi. Parvati is sitting on top of Nandi, white-colored Nandi. Parvati is also sitting on top of Nandi on Shiva's lap. She is wearing a bluish-black saree with a whitish blouse, ornaments, holding a flower in her hand, and Ganesha in her lap, Ganapathi in her lap. Ganapathi is an infant with the head of an elephant. Shiva has serpents on his ears, a third eye, a crescent moon, and a faint shadow of Ganga can also be seen.
Rasa: Shanta

Spatial & Architectural

Position in Pradakshina Sequence: 23
Adjacent Panels: Mahalakshmi and Subrahmaniyan

Narrative

Textual Source: Non-narrative
Mythological Tale: This image shows the blend of Vaishnavism and Shaivism. Vishnu atop his elephant exchanges gifts with Shiva and his family, including Ganesha. This is a reimagination of the painting by Raja Ravi Varma.
Episode: Non narrative

Condition & Documentation

Condition: Fair
Deterioration Type: Pigment loss
Restoration Status: Unrestored
Documentation Type: DSLR full panel
Permission Basis: Temple authorities
Date of Documentation: 08/08/2024
Artist: Neelakantan Ilayath
Identifier: ASG_P023
Rights / Notes: These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.