Narasimham - Kerala Mural Archive

Alangad, ASG_P017 — Narasimham: full panel view

Detail Photos

Deity: Narasimham 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 fierce form of Narasimha is depicted in this panel. Narasimha is seen as devouring the entrails of Hiranyakashipu. Prahlada stands nearby to his left, holding his hand in Anjali Mudra. There is also a woman to his right, holding her hands in Anjali Mudra. She might be the mother of Prahlada.

Iconography

Primary Deity/Figure: Narasimham
Iconographic Form: Narasimham (Vishnu's incarnation)
Iconographic Attributes: Golden-skinned Narasimha, half human, half lion form, head of a lion with golden mane, sharp teeth, hands resembling those of human, four arms, each on either side. Six arms are engaged in ripping out Hiranyakashipu's entrails. The two upper arms are holding the Sudarshana chakra and the shangu, or conch shell. Hiranyaksha is dark in complexion, wearing dark clothes, mouth wide open. Prahlada is seen to the right of the panel, in Anjali mudra, crown on his forehead, blue clothes. The left side of the panel is a woman in Anjali mudra, long black hair, red sari, green blouse, wearing ornaments.
Rasa: Raudra

Spatial & Architectural

Position in Pradakshina Sequence: 17
Adjacent Panels: Dattatreyan, and Yashoda with Krishna and Balarama

Narrative

Textual Source: Non-narrative
Mythological Tale: Hiranyakashipu was an asura king with disdain for the Gods and arrogance about his own powers. In turn, his son Prahlada is a true devotee of Vishnu, which angers Hiranyakashipu. He tries to kill Prahlada but all his efforts go in vain because of divine intervention. In a fit of anger, Hiranyakashipu asks where Prahlada's God is and crushes a pillar in anger. Out of the pillar emerges the half-man, half-lion form of Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu had acquired the boon of not facing death unless several conditions are fulfilled: he cannot be killed by humans or animals, in day or night, using any weapons, or in sky or land. Narasimha validates all these conditions as he is neither human nor animal, emerges at dusk which is neither day nor night, uses his claws not any weapons, and finally neither in sky nor land but on Narasimha’s lap. The depiction reminds the devotee that God comes to the aid of a true devotee and is omnipresent.
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_P017
Rights / Notes: These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.