Sri Vedaranyeswarar Temple, Vedaranyam, Sri Parijathavaneswarar Temple, Thirukalar, Sri Rajagopalaswamy Temple, Mannargudi - Paintings and Drawings on the Walls,

25^th September 2017.

During our Heritage Visit to Chozha period Temples, we saw some very old paintings done on the walls and ceilings. Some of the paintings belong to Vijayanagara and some are latter periods. Most of the temple mandapams and corridors were constructed during the Nayak period.

VEDARANYAM – SRI VEDARANYESWARAR TEMPLE

These paintings are drawn on the walls of the praharam. It was told that the granite walls are plastered with lime mortar and painted before the surface gets dried. These paintings are very much similar to Thanjavur Periya kovil praharam walls. The materials may be of natural dye. The story of the Nayanmars is painted on the north side of the praharam wall. Also, some of the paintings are done on the sanctum walls. ( The sanctum wall painting is covered with glass for protection, which was not done during my earlier visit. ) These paintings may belong to Nayak’s period.
  

THIRUKALAR – SRI PARIJATHAVANESWARAR TEMPLE

The various forms of Lord Shiva were painted on the lintel beams of the front mandapam.

  

MANNARGUDI – SRI RAJAGOPALASWAMY TEMPLE,

Paintings with frames of the Ramayana epic and 10 avatars of Vishnu are hung on the  6^th and 7^th praharam walls. These paintings may be from the 20^th century.  Also, Vishnu’s 24 forms are painted on the entrance ceiling of a mandapam. The ceiling paintings are much more difficult to draw compared to wall paintings. The material used for these paintings may be chemical.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---