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| Chennakeshava Temple, Somanathpura |
Continuing from where we left off in Part I, which can be read HERE
THE RAMAYANA PANELS
The Kapotabandha (frieze) of the temple contains scenes from the Ramayana, Bhagavata purana & Mahabharata. I've tried to decipher some of them. It starts with a scene from the Ramayana. It shows King Dasharatha seated in his royal court
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| Dasharatha seated in his court |
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| Dasharatha on the advice of rishis performing Putrakameshti yaga for the sake of bearing children |
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| The birth of Shri Rama |
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| Namakarana of the children. Sumitra is seen holding twins Lakshmana & Shatrughna. Next to her is Kaikeyi holding Bharatha followed by Kausalya with Rama on her lap. Dasharatha is seated next to her |
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| Babies are rocked in cradles |
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| Babies learn to crawl |
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| Now a little grown up, the 4 brothers are given martial training |
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| Rama and Lakshmana accompany Rishi Vishwamitra to the forest |
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| Rama kills Tataka rakshashi who would often harass rishis performing yajnas |
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| Rishis resume performing Yajna as Rama and Lakshmana keep watch |
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| Yajna attacked again by Tataka's son Maricha. He is defeated by Rama |
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| Vishvamithra takes Rama & Lakshmana to Janaka's palace in Mithila |
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| Rama lifts & breaks the Pinaka bow of Shiva, followed by Sita garlanding Rama |
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| Panels depicting marriages of Rama with Sita & Lakshmana with Urmila |
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| Newly wed Rama & Lakshmana travelling back to Ayodhya from Mithila in a chariot. They are stopped and challenged by Parashurama |
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| Rama, Sita, Lakshmana & Urmila being welcomed in Ayodhya |
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| Dasharatha and his 4 sons seated in durbar. On the bottom right side of the panel, Mallitama, the sculptor has left his signature in Kannada |
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| This panel depicts the exile of Rama. He along with Lakshmana & Sita are taken away in a chariot by Sumantra |
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| Rama, Lakshmana & Sita enter the forest and are received by the Rishis |
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| Viradha, the rakshasa who tries to attack Sita is killed by Rama |
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| This panel shows Lakshmana chopping off Surpanaki's nose. She is seen standing with her hands folded. In the next scene, Rama fights rakshasa brothers Khara and Dushana |
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| Rama chases and kills Maricha who is in the form of a golden deer |
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| Ravana abducts Sita. Following scene shows Jatayu fighting Ravana |
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| Ravana kills Jatayu in battle. Sugreeva sees Sita's jewels |
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| The Ramayana panel ends here with the meeting of Hanuman with Rama & Lakshmana |
THE BHAGAVATA PANELS
The next set of panels depict the events surrounding Krishna's birth & childhood
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| The Bhagavata purana panels commence with Vishnu resting on Adishesha |
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| This panel shows the durbar of Vishnu & Lakshmi |
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| Devaki-Vasudeva's marriage procession. Kamsa is the charioteer. |
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| Panel depicts Vasudeva exiting Kamsa's prison in Mathura. A prison guard is seen behind a door sleeping on the job. Vasudeva is seen crossing the Yamuna river holding the just born Krishna in his arms |
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| Vasudeva arrives at Gokula. Panels depict him exchanging the new born Krishna with the girl baby (Yogamaya) of Yashoda |
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| Two panels showing Krishna being handed over to Gopi at Gokula & Kamsa dreaming of Krishna's escape from Mathura |
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| News of Krishna's escape being confirmed to Kamsa by prison guards |
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| Panels depicting Krishna being brought up in Gokula, rocked in a swing, fed milk by Yashoda |
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| Panel showing Krishna killing Putana rakshasi |
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| People of Gokula traveling to Nanda's house to meet Krishna |
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| Krishna kicking the cart & thereby killing Sakatasura |
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| Krishna uproots the Arjuna tree, liberating Nalakubara & Manigriva |
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| Krishna kills Bakasura, a rakshasa in form of a crane |
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| Krishna stealing butter |
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| People of Gokula migrating to Vrindavana |
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| Krishna grants Vishvaroopa darshana to cowherds |
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| Krishna plays in the groves on the banks of the Yamuna river |
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| Krishna wrestles with Chanura, Mushtika & other wrestlers |
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| Krishna dancing on Kaliya's hood after subduing him |
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| Balarama kills Dhenukasura, the asura in form of a donkey |
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| Krishna kills Gardabhasura, a donkey shaped asura with the tail of a horse |
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| Krishna kills Aghasura, who assumes the form of a Python |
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| Krishna lifting the Govardhana mountain. Indra is seen praying to him |
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| Indra seen seated on his vahana, Airavata coronates Krishna. Indra gives the name "Govinda" to Krishna on this occasion |
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| Panels depicting Krishna's Rasakrida with Gopis |
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| Krishna kills asura Vyoma |
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| Scenes depicting Krishna's arrival at Mathura |
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| Panel depicting killing of the elephant Kuvalayapida by Krishna |
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| Panels depicting scenes from the wrestling arena. It shows many prominent wrestlers like Chanura, Mushtika, Kuta, Sala ,Tosala & others |
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| Krishna & Balarama wrestle and defeat Kamsa's wrestlers as spectators seated in the gallery watch on |
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| Chanura & Mushtika are killed by Balarama & Krishna |
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| Panels depicting the final battle with Kamsa. The last panel shows Krishna dragging Kamsa by his hair & killing him |
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| Krishna killing Kamsa |
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| The following panels show Krishna proceeding towards the prison where his biological parents Devaki & Vasudeva are held in captivity. He goes on to free them |
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| Krishna reinstates his grandfather Ugrasena as the ruler of Mathura. The Bhagavata panels end here with a depiction of Ugrasena's durbar |
THE MAHABHARATHA PANELS
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| The following panels depict episodes from the Mahabharata. Seen here is Dhritarashtra's durbar |
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| Bhima displaying his immense strength by shaking a tree resulting in the Kauravas falling down from it |
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| Pandavas & Kauravas receive martial training |
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| Pandavas & Kauravas take to battlefield on their chariots |
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| Dhritarashtra intervenes to prevent the war |
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| Elders like Bhishma & Drona advice against war |
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| Pandavas survive the assassination attempt at Lakshagriha. Carving of burning flames can clearly be seen |
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| Pandavas escaping Lakshagriha to the forests via a secret passage |
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| Pandavas in the forest |
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| Hidimbi meets Bhima in Kamyakavana forest. Her brother Hidamba furious with her fights Bhima & is killed in the battle |
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| Hidmbi gives birth to Ghatotkacha who is seen in a cradle suspended from a tree |
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| Pandavas travelling to Ekachakrapura |
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| Bhima carrying a cart full of food for Bakasura. Next panel shows Bhima killing Bakasura |
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| Pandavas arrive at Drupada's kingdom in Panchala where they stay at a potter's house. The potter can be seen working with his wheel in the left |
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| Scenes from Draupadi's swayamvara. Arjuna hits the golden fish eye with his bow & arrow. The fish can also be seen in this panel. Next panel shows Draupadi garlanding Arjuna |
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| Duryodhana, Karna & other Kauravas attack Draupadi & Arjuna. A battle is fought on chariots. They are all defeated by Arjuna |
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| Pandavas return to Hastinapura with Draupadi |
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| A great sabha is held in Hastinapura where the Kauravas on the advice of Shakuni coerce the Pandavas into playing the game of dice |
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| Krishna advises Arjuna to build a new capital by clearing a forest known as Khandava |
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| On the advice of Krishna; Arjuna burns down the Khandava forest |
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| This panel describes the episode of Kiratarjuniya. Arjuna performs a series of penance to obtain the Pashupatastra of Shiva. This weapon would make him nearly invincible. Shiva assumes the form of a Kirata (hunter) to test Arjuna's abilities |
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| Sanjaya narrating the events of Kurukshetra war to Dhritarashtra |
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| Bhima fights & kills Dushasana |
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| War scenes |
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| Karna, seated in yogic posture is appointed as the Senapathi of the Kaurava forces |
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| More war scenes. We can clearly see apart from elephants & horses, camels were used in the Kurukshetra war |
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| The Mahabharata panels conclude with this particular panel showing the victorious Pandavas in a seated posture under a canopy |
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As seen in the picture, there are 6 layers of carvings around the temple in this order:
1) Elephant
2) Horse
3) Floral
4) Carvings from Bhagavata, Ramayana & Mahabharata
5) Small sculptures of various deities including 24 forms of Vishnu
6) Railing carvings of Prahlada |
THE PRAHLADA PANELS
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| Panels showing Prahlada subjected to torture by soldiers on the instructions of Hiranyakashipu |
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| Elephant let loose on Prahlada in order to stomp him to death |
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| Prahlada set on fire |
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| Prahlada threatened with beheading |
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| Prahlada thrown into the sea . Fish & turtle carvings can be seen |
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| Narasimha fights & slays Hiranyakashipu |
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| Narasimha blesses Prahlada |
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| Garuda |
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| Bali requesting Shukra no to prevent his gift to Vamana |
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| Bali gives daana to Vamana. Next to this panel is a small carving of Vishnu |
TEMPLE INTERIOR
Lets have a look at the temple interior. The temple has 3 cells each housing a murthi of Venugopala ,Keshava & Janardhana.
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| The south garbhagriha houses a murthi of Venugopala. The doorway leading to south sukhanasi has a lintel featuring a carving of Venugopala. Above this is a carving of Lakshminarayana seated in suksana |
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| Lakshminarayana & Venugopala |
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| Jaya |
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| Vijaya |
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| The uttaranga portion of the garbhagriha doorway features a carving of a dancing form of Vishnu |
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| Inside the garbhagriha stands this magnificent murthi of Venugopala. The height of the murthi including the pedestal must be around 7 feet. Here Krishna is represented as being fully ornamented. He stands crossing his legs and leans against a tamala tree |
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| The torana features various carvings including that of these cows, who have lifted their heads up & intently listing to Krishna playing the flute |
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| The torana has carvings of various rishis. Near its edges are carved the 10 avataras of Vishnu |
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| The doorway leading to the west sukanasi has a lintel featuring a carving of a standing image of Keshava. Above this a carving of Gaja Lakshmi |
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| West sukanasi ceiling |
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| West garbhagriha doorway. On the lintel is an image of Lakshminarayana. Above this is an image of Vishnu seated in sukasana |
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| Inside the garbhagriha is this replacement murthi of Keshava. In each of his 4 arms, he holds a Shanka Gada, Chakra & Pushpa. This is actually not the original murthi which was probably destroyed or smuggled away |
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| Dwarapalaka |
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| This is the doorway of the north sukanasi. On its lintel is an image of Janardhana. Above this is an image of Lakshmi-Narasimha |
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| North sukanasi ceiling |
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| The north garbhagriha doorway. It features images of a seated Lakshmi holding akshamala, chakra, shanka & kalasa. Above this is an image of Yoganarayana seated in yogasana posture |
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| The garbagriha houses this brilliant image of Janardhana. Each of his 4 arms holds a chakra, shanka, gada & pushpa. He is flanked on either side by ayudhapurushas. The torana also features the dashavatara |
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| Fluted column from the rangamantapa |
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| Srikara column from the rangamantapa |
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| Sabhamandaraka ceiling from the rangamantapa |
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| Nabhicchanda ceiling from the rangamantapa |
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| This smaller gudi in the rangamantapa originally housed a murthi of Ganesha. A miniature carving of Ganesha can be seen on the Lalatabimba. The ASI has now placed a murthi of Lakshminarayana inside the gudi. The original Ganesha was either destroyed or smuggled away |
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| This gudi once housed a murthi of Mahishasuramardhini. Now its empty |
TEMPLE EXTERIOR
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| East facade |
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| South Vimana |
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| West Vimana |
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| North Vimana |
The Vimanas are all built in the plan of a 16 pointed star in the shape of a lotus. On top of the Shikhara is a heavy round kalasa. Some of the carvings seen on the Vimanas are that of simhamukha, kirtimuka, makara, yaksha, gandharva etc
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| Adisthana & Jangha |
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| North side Adisthana & Jangha |
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| Urdhvajanga |
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| Asanapatta & Kakshasana |
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| Myself at the Temple |
I would like to conclude this post by expressing my deepest gratitude to my Mother, who has been a constant source of support and encouragement. She has been instrumental in my journey to decipher these carvings. Her profound knowledge of the Puranas, Itihasa & Shastras not only inspired me, but also guided my understanding, making this endeavour all the more enriching. Thank you all for reading the post.
