Girijakalyanam sketch - Kerala Mural Archive

Detail Photos

Deity: Parvathi Location: Mattancherry Palace Theme: Local tradition Visual Feature: Facial expression detail Visual Feature: Hand gesture (mudra)Visual Feature: Ornamentation

Parvati is depicted as carrying a huge swayamvara garland, or wedding garland. She is adorned with jewellery from head to toe. She is accompanied by a group of women from her family, towards the wedding hall. The women are carrying traditional lamps or nilavilakku, musical instruments of various kinds, and flowers and other auspicious objects on their hands. Some of them are doing the korava, or the ululating sound generated by women during auspicious occasions. There is a bearded figure among them. It might be Himavan. There is also a pookkuvla being carried to the wedding venue.

Iconography

Primary Deity/Figure: Parvathi
Secondary Figures: Himavan
Iconographic Form: Girijakalyanam
Iconographic Attributes: Parvati, depicted as wearing a crown, a tilak on her forehead, long earrings, necklaces, bangles, and ornate anklets. She is wearing a thin breast cloth and a dhoti. She holds a huge wedding garland in her hand. There is a group of huge group of female figures accompanying her. Two are holding different types of lamp or nilavilakku on their hand. Some are playing musical instruments. Someone is carrying a vessel full of pukkula in their hand. There is also a male figure amongst them, wearing a crown, a beard and moustache. He might be Himalaya. The women behind Parvati is doing the kurava idal ritual. This can be identified by the way they are closing their mouth with their hands in order to generate the kurava sound or ululating sound.
Rasa: Shanta

Spatial & Architectural

Temple: Palace interior
Zone within Temple: Antechamber
Position in Pradakshina Sequence: Not Applicable
Adjacent Panels: Girijakalyanam and Girijakalyanam

Narrative

Textual Source: Local tradition
Mythological Tale: Parvati went on a penance to marry Shiva and Shiva finally agreed to the marriage. Being the daughter of Himavan, she was married off to Shiva in the presence of her parents, sages, Devas and bhootaganas.
Episode: Girijakalyanam
Position within Narrative Sequence: 5 out of 6

Condition & Documentation

Condition: Not Applicable
Deterioration Type: Other
Restoration Status: Not Applicable
Documentation Type: DSLR full panel
Permission Basis: ASI permission
Date of Documentation: 01/08/2024
Artist: Unknown
Identifier: MCP_P013
Rights / Notes: These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.