Ramayana - Kerala Mural Archive

Detail Photos

Deity: Sreeraman Location: Mattancherry Palace Theme: Ramayana Visual Feature: Background pattern Visual Feature: Facial expression detail Visual Feature: Hand gesture (mudra)Visual Feature: Ornamentation

This panel depicts the scenes from Balakanda from Ramayana. The story progresses in three horizontal bands, from left to right of the panel. The bottom left side of the panel shows Rama and Lakshmana attacking Tadaka and protecting Vishwamitra. The demoness appears to be mid-gesture trying to attack Rama, while Rama is also in the brink of sending his arrow towards Tadaka. The next scene beside it shows Rama and Lakshmana protecting the sages from attack of various asuras or demons. Their arrows are seen piercing the faces of different demons. At the very bottom right of the panel is Ahalya emerging from a stone, who has been released from her curse by Rama. At the middle of the panel, towards the left end, there is Vishwamitra introducing Rama and Lakshmana to Janaka and his wife. In the next scene at the middle of the panel is Rama and Lakshmana are seen standing beside each other. Rama is seen breaking Triyambaka bow. Sita is shown standing nearby holding the wedding garland. In the next scene at the middle of the panel towards the extreme right, is Sita and Rama with the wedding garland around Rama's neck. So this is the scene where the actual wedding takes place. At the very top left of the panel, we can see Dasaratha and his three wives grieving over Rama and Lakshmana having to go with Vishwamitra to protect his sacrifice or yagna. Their deeply saddened expression shows sorrow over the absence of their children. At the middle of the top portion of this narrative band is Rama, Bharata, Shatrukhna and Lakshmana along with several attendants going back to Ayodhya with their newlywed brides, but is stopped by Parashurama. In the end Parashurama bows to Rama and paves his way. This concludes this panel.

Iconography

Primary Deity/Figure: Sreeraman
Secondary Figures: Bharathan, Dasharathan, Kaikayi, Kausalya, Lakshmanan, Parashurama, Shathrughnan, Sita, Sumanthran, Sumithra, Tadaka, Vishwamithra
Iconographic Form: Sreeraman (Vishnu's reincarnation)
Iconographic Attributes: The narrative progressess across three horizontal narrative bands; Begins with depiction of golden-skinned Vishwamitra, with a long beard and hair and matted locks pulled together into a bun above his head. He is asking Rama and Lakshmana to kill Tataka, the demoness. Tataka is shown to be green-skinned, with bulging eyes and an open mouth with fangs. She has ornaments made of skulls. She is holding a huge spear in one of her hands, and another hand is near her hips. Rama is green-skinned and is holding an arrow and a bow in one of his hands. Behind him is golden-skinned Lakshmana, also holding a bow and arrow in his hands. Rama is wearing a red upper jacket, and Lakshmana is wearing a green upper jacket. They are attacking Tataka. To the right of this scene depicts three sages engaged in a yagna or sacrifice, while they are being attacked from above by several asuras or demons. Their bulging eyes and crowns are visible from above. Rama stands to the right of the sages and has an arrow in his hands. His other hand has already let go of another arrow. Several of his arrows have hit the monsters in their faces. Lakshmana is also standing behind him. In the next scene, at the extreme right of the panel is again Rama holding a bow and arrow in his hand, green-skinned and looking at Ahalya, who is golden-skinned, with her hands folded in Anjali mudra. She has long flowing hair and flowers in her hair. At the extreme left of the panel, towards the middle, is yellow-skinned Vishwamitra with a Vyakhyana mudra in either of his hands, explaining to Janaka, seated on a throne, as to who the boys are. Janaka is golden-skinned and is holding his hands up in Vyakhyana mudra, explaining to Vishwamitra that they will have to tie the string of Triambaka bow in order to win the hand of their daughter Sita. Janaka's wife is green-skinned and stands next to him. Rama and Lakshmana are also in the scene. They are standing behind Vishwamitra, holding a bow in one of their visible arms. In the next scene, Rama is seen holding a bow and arrow in his hand, while Sita, golden-skinned, with heavy ornaments, is holding a varamala or wedding garland in her hand. Next scene shows Rama with a bow and arrow in his hand being garlanded by Sita, who is looking at him with a shy expression. Above, Green-skinned Dasharatha, with a long black beard, is seen with his left hand resting above his left lap and his right hand raised above in Vyakhyana mudra, explaining to his wife why he had to let his sons Rama and Lakshmana go with Vishwamitra sage. Three of Dasharatha's wives are seen beside each other: there is golden-skinned Kaikeyi, green-skinned Kausalya, and light green-skinned Sumitra. In the next scene, the procession of Rama's wedding is seen. There are several heads visible behind them. He is stopped by golden-skinned, long-bearded Parashurama, who asks for explanation as to why he broke Triambaka Shiva's bow. In the next scene, Parashurama is seen with folded arms in Anjali mudra, while Ram is raising his bow up in the air.
Rasa: Shanta

Spatial & Architectural

Temple: Palace interior
Zone within Temple: Ramayana Chamber
Position in Pradakshina Sequence: Not Applicable
Adjacent Panels: Sreekrishnaleela and Ramayanam

Narrative

Textual Source: Ramayana
Mythological Tale: Vishwamitra, like other sages of the time, used to live in forests and conduct yajnas for the wellness of mankind. However, there were several asuras or demons who constantly caused trouble for him. So he approached Dasharatha and asked him to send his boys, Rama and Lakshmana, to protect his yajna, or sacrifice. Being too much attached to their children, Dasharatha and his wives were deeply saddened by the thought, but they could not refuse the sage. So they let them go with Viswamithra. Rama and Lakshmana, as they entered the forest, met with Tataka, the demoness, and had a battle with her, which ended in Tataka's demise. Soon they also caused the death of several demons who were trying to disrupt the yajna. After the yajna was successfully completed, he traveled again and met with Ahalya, who had been turned to stone by a curse. As Rama stepped on the stone, she transformed back into the beautiful woman and thanked Rama for releasing her from the curse. Vishwamitra then takes the boys to the court of Janaka, where the latter is holding a svayamvara for the marriage of his daughter Sita. He asks all the suitors to tie the string of Trishula bow, which is the bow of Lord Shiva. Rama tries to tie the bow but breaks it in the attempt and wins the hand of Sita. Lakshmana and other brothers of Rama get invited to Janaka's court, and his brothers marry Sita's sisters. After the marriage, they travel back to Ayodhya and on the way meets Shiva's disciple Parashurama, who argues with Rama over breaking of the Trishula bow. Rama explains to him why the bow was broken and also engages in a fight with him. In the end, Parashurama agrees to Rama's divinity and allows them to pass.
Episode: Balakandam
Position within Narrative Sequence: 2 out of 10

Condition & Documentation

Condition: Good
Deterioration Type: Pigment loss
Restoration Status: Unrestored
Documentation Type: DSLR full panel
Permission Basis: ASI permission
Date of Documentation: 01/08/2024
Artist: Unknown
Identifier: MCP_P030
Rights / Notes: These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.