The Colas c35.s2.6

c35.s2.6

The theme of the Tanjore Cōḷa paintings is religious, drawn mostly from the hagiology that was later worked up into the *Periya-Purāṇam*. The episodes of the life of Sundaramūrti form the subject of some of the best panels. On the top of the panel on the west wall (chamber 7) is the Kailāsa scene—Śiva seated in *Yogāsana* on a tiger skin with the couchant Nandi (bull) in front and a group *ṛṣis* with a couple of *apsara* maidens dancing at the opposite end; Śiva is painted red and one of the *ṛṣis* blue. Just below is the picture of Sundaramūrti and his friend Cēramān Perumāḷ, another *nāyanār*. The scene depicts the journey of the two friends to Kailāsa at the invitation of Śiva; the youthful Sundara is seated on the fast moving elephant sent to fetch him, and Cēramān on his horse speeded by his whispering the *pañcākṣara* (Śaiva credo) into the ears of his horse which, as a result, soon mounted the sky and overtook the divine elephant ridden by Sundara! The white elephant of Sundara is the centre of the picture; and right in front is the prancing steed, its rider looking back and beckoning to Sundara. The king wears a long moustache, a close beard, and a large tuft of hair behind his head. He is bare-bodied except for the *dhoti* round his waist. Round the neck he has a tight necklet and a dangling cord with a *rudrākṣa* bead strung in it. The harness and trappings are well worked out on the body of the white horse. At the right and left top corners are a group of celestial beings half hidden by the clouds—the right group consisting of *apsara* maidens and *gandharvas* showering lotus petals, dancing, and playing on musical instruments. The left group seems to comprise *ṛṣis*. Right in front of Cēramān’s steed is the most elegant of the dancing *apsara* maidens, her body bent in rhythmic curves and her right arm stretched out in front and left bent in *abhaya* pose, her face turned back. Her diaphanous clothing and the elaborate coiffure, jingling anklets and wristlets add charm to her graceful form (frontispiece).