The Colas c36.3

c36.3

Frontispiece.—(a) Panel of painting showing a group of celestial musicians—Gandharvas and Apsarases. The one on the right is playing on cymbals. The other three hold their hands in *vismaya* pose. They are in the posture of flying through the air which is suggested by their being hidden below their waist in the cloud-*motif*, which is called "Chinese". This panel is placed between the panel above showing Śiva in Kailās and the panel below showing Sundaramūrti Nāyanār on Airāvata and Cheramān Perumāl on horse proceeding to Kailās, to demarcate the two different regions. The *bhangas*, the head-dresses and ornaments and colour compositions are wonderful. That the artists of Tanjore were masters of line is easily borne out by the sure and suave *rekhās*.