Vijayanagara Paintings: Rise of Artistic Splendor Amidst Dynastic Transition

As the Chola dynasty declined in the thirteenth century, the Vijayanagara Dynasty (fourteenth-sixteenth centuries) rose to power. Hampi served as its capital, capturing the region from Hampi to Trichy.

Transition to Vijayanagara Paintings: Racing the Artistic Epoch from Tiruparakunram to Lepakshi Temple

• Early Phase: The paintings at Tiruparakunram, near Trichy, done in the fourteenth century represent the early phase of the Vijayanagara style. 
• Historical Representation: In Hampi, the Virupaksha temple has vijayanagara paintings on the ceiling of its mandapa narrating events from dynastic history and episodes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. 
• Description: Among the important panels are the ones which show Vidyaranya, the spiritual teacher of Bukkaraya Harsha, being carried in a palanquin in a procession and the incarnations of Vishnu. 
• The faces of the figures are shown in profile, with large frontal eyes. The figures have narrow waists. 
• Lepakshi Temple: In Lepakshi, near Hindupur, in present Andhra Pradesh, there are glorious examples of Vijayanagara paintings on the walls of the Shiva temple.

Vijayanagara Artistic Conventions: Distinct Pictorial Language and Enduring Influence Across South India and Nayaka Period

• Distinct Pictorial Language: Vijayanagara painters evolved a distinct pictorial language characterized by profiled faces, two-dimensional depictions of figures and objects, still but fluid lines, and compositions in rectilinear compartments. 
  • These conventions influenced artists in various centers in South India, extending into the Nayaka Period.

Nayaka Paintings: Timeless Paintings in Tamil Nadu’s Cultural Tapestry

• The Nayaka dynasty, in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, continued the artistic tradition in Thiruparakunram, Sreerangam, and Tiruvarur in Tamil Nadu. 
  • Thiruparakunram features Vijayanagara paintings from both the fourteenth and seventeenth centuries, depicting scenes from the life of Vardhaman Mahavira.

Themes in Nayaka Paintings: Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Divine Narratives in South Indian Temple Paintings

• Mahabharata and Ramayana Scenes: Nayaka paintings depict episodes from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, along with scenes from Krishna-leela. 
  • Various temples, such as Tiruvarur, Chidambaram, and Chengam, showcase panels narrating stories related to Shiva, Vishnu, and the Ramayana. 
  • In Chidambaram, there are panels of vijayanagara paintings narrating stories related to Shiva and Vishnu— Shiva as Bhikshatana Murti, Vishnu as Mohini, etc.

Continuity and Modifications in Nayaka Style: Continuity, Regional Flourishes, and Dynamic Figures in South Indian Art

• Extension: Nayaka paintings, considered an extension of the Vijayanagara style, exhibit minor regional modifications and incorporations. 
• Figures, mostly in profile, are set against flat backgrounds. 
  • Male figures are depicted slim-waisted, with less heavy abdomens compared to Vijayanagara paintings. 
  • The artists maintain a tradition of infusing movement and dynamism into the depicted space, as seen in the painting of Nataraja at Tiruvalanjuli.

Kerala Murals: A Vibrant Fusion of Tradition and Innovation in Pictorial Artistry (16th-18th Century)

Evolution of Kerala Mural Painting: Fusion of Styles (16th-18th Century) – Kathakali, Kalam Ezhuthu, and Vibrant Dimensions

• Synthesis of Styles: During the 16th to 18th century, Kerala painters developed a distinctive pictorial language and technique, incorporating elements from Nayaka and Vijayanagara schools. 
• Local Inspirations: They drew inspiration from local traditions like Kathakali and kalam ezhuthu (ritual floor painting of Kerala), utilizing vibrant colors and achieving three-dimensional representation of human figures.

Themes and Sources

• Medium and Location: Kerala mural paintings, found on shrine and temple walls, as well as inside palaces, exhibit unique thematic elements. 
• Focus on Hindu Mythology: Narrations predominantly focus on episodes from Hindu mythology popular in Kerala. 
  • Artists drew from oral traditions and local versions of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata for their painted narratives.

Prominent Sites of Kerala Mural Painting: Iconic Sites Reflecting the Apex of Artistic Tradition

• Over sixty sites showcase mural paintings in Kerala, including notable locations like Pundareekapuram Krishna temple, Panayanarkavu, Thirukodithanam, Triprayar Sri Rama temple, and Trissur Vadakkunathan temple. 
• These sites capture the mature phase of Kerala’s mural painting tradition.

Continuity in Contemporary Murals: Women, Tradition, and Geographical Diversity in Artistic Expression

• Continued Tradition: Even today, mural painting is prevalent on the interior and exterior walls of houses in villages across the country. 
• Community Involvement: Women often engage in creating these paintings during ceremonies, festivals, or as part of routine wall cleaning and decoration. 
• Geographical Diversity: Traditional mural forms are observed in different regions, such as pithoro in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat, Mithila painting in northern Bihar, warli paintings in Maharashtra, and various wall paintings in villages of Odisha, Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

Conclusion

• Mural paintings in India boast a rich and enduring history, dating from the 2nd century BC to the 8th – 10th century AD. The exquisite frescoes found in iconic locations such as the Ajanta and Ellora caves, Bagh caves, Sittanvasal, and other sites provide invaluable evidence of this ancient artistic tradition.