Dakshinamoorthy - Kerala Mural Archive

Kadavil Thrikkovil, KTK_P038 — Shiva: full panel view

Detail Photos

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

This is the image of Dakshinamurti form of Shiva. He is wearing rudraksha pearls as ornament. His one hand is held up in vyakhyana mudra, while the other hand is lying loose over his knees. His one leg is bent. He is wearing a white loin cloth. There is a sage standing nearby. The backdrop is red in color with a floral motif.

Narrative

Textual Source: Non-narrative
Mythological Tale: Dakshinamurthy is shivan in his form as the supreme teacher, seated facing south beneath a tree, imparting the highest knowledge to a gathering of aged sages not through speech but through silence and gesture. This form is the source of the guru shishya tradition central to South Indian transmission of knowledge, and murals of it are often placed near the southern approach of a temple.
Episode: Non-narrative

Iconography

Primary Deity/Figure: Shiva
Secondary Figures: sage
Iconographic Form: Shiva
Iconographic Attributes: Green-skinned Dakshinamurti, with two arms. Right hand held up in vyakhyana mudra, left hand, left loosely. Wearing a white loincloth, necklaces, and other jewelry made of rudraksha beads. He has an ornate crown on his head and dreadlocks. There is a yellow-skinned sage beside him, with long black beard and mustache. The scene is set against a red backdrop with a floral motif.
Visual & Formal Features: Facial expression detail, Hand gesture (mudra), Ornamentation
Rasa: Shanta

Spatial & Architectural

Zone within Temple: Sanctum
Position in Pradakshina Sequence: 38
Adjacent Panels: Kalki and Indra

Condition & Documentation

Condition: Fair
Deterioration Type: Pigment loss
Restoration Status: Unrestored
Documentation Type: DSLR full panel
Permission Basis: Temple priest
Date of Documentation: 10/05/2025
Artist: Unknown
Identifier: KTK_P038
Rights / Notes: These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.