Rama Ravana Battle Scenes in Tamil Temple Sculptures

Abstract

The Ramayana and the Mahabharata are immortal epics that are the treasury of Indian culture. Both epics convey the values and ideals that people need. The Ramayana written in the Northern language by Valmiki is in some way the source for other Indian language Ramayanas. Kambana in Tamil and Konaputharetti in Telugu have composed Kambaramayana and Iranganatha Ramayana respectively. Sculptures can be found in the temples of Tamil Nadu including these three language Ramayanas. Thus, it is possible to realize that literature and art are interrelated. Many of the Alvars in the Vaishnava literary four-thousandth Prabhupada exemplify the message of Ramavatara. Among the Alvars, Kulasekara gives the Ramavatara reference. References to the Ramayana are also baked into vegetarian literature. The Ashoka Pillar of the Mauryan period is the beginning of the stone sculpture. Horoscope Ramayana messages in India are inscribed on Buddhist monuments. Although Rama, Krishna and Narasimhan are notable among the three incarnations of the Vaishnava deity Thirumal in Tamil Nadu, the influence on the Ramayana is due to the large number of sculptures about Rama. The Vedic Cholas in Tamil Nadu have created Vaishnava Ramayana sculptures in their temples. The influence of Vaishnavism was greatest during the Vijayanagara Nayak period following the Chola period. The Vijayanagara Nayaks built roundabouts, planes, towers, etc., along with the foundations of the temple. Of these, sculptures were placed on stones and sutas. Ravanavatha is featured in the war to fulfill the purpose of Ramavatar. The battle of Rama Ravana and Ravanavatha can be seen in the temples of Tamil Nadu as sculptures of this event.