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THORAPPADI
The fresco technique of painting employed on the Uttara of the sangitamandapa of the Pushpadanta temple (Photo No.23 at Thorappadi, is datable to the Chola period. A tree is painted in between two lotus designs. Two Tirthankaras in the Kayotsarga posture and the two others, seated in the dhyana posture are painted. They have long ear lobes. Another painting depicts a lilly design. Near to it, there is a muni in a preaching posture, probably may be, Rishabha or the Ganadhara. The colours used are yellow, red and green.
VIDUR
The Rishbhanatha temple at Vidur has a series of 30 panels of paintings found on the ceiling of the mukhamandapa. It is datable to 17th century A.D. These paintings narrate the history of the first Tirthankara Rishabhanatha. Each panel represents the events and the life history of Rishabahanatha. These paintings are painted on the lime plaster. The colour pigments have been mixed with gum and water. Inscriptions of the 18th century characters are written below each panel. The painting panels start from the south eastern corner of the mukhamandapa where four standing women attendants are depicted. In the second panel, the Gods (devas) including Soudharmendra, after learning the birth of Rishabha (swami) travels to Ayodhya. In the third panel, Lord Rishabha is taken by the elephant called Aravata for the sacred bath. In the fourth panel Rishabha is seated in the dhyana posture on a padmapitha in the pandugasilai mandapa. The gods are carrying sacred water in the pot on their sides. The fifth panel, depicts a dance sequence, symbolically representing the joy and creation (Photo No.24). In the sixth panel lord Rishabha is shown performing puja. The seventh panel depicts marriage scene of Rishabha. In the nineth panel, Rishabha is depicted on a swing with his two wives (Photo No.25). Sunanda and Yasasvati. The tenth panel depicts the dream of Yasawati. In the eleventh panel she is asking Lord Rishabha, the meaning of the dream. The twelveth panel depicts Rishabha in the preaching attitude.
In the thirteenth panel Rishabhadeva is shown preaching his daughters Brahmi and Sundari. In the fourteenth panel the performance of the puja of Lord Rishabhanatha is shown. The fifteenth panel, shows the eastablishment of Nagavamsa (Ugravamsa) Guruvamsa etc. The head of Guruvamsa is conducting pujas. The sisxteenth,depicts the dance of Apsaras, witnessed by Rishabha. In the seventeenth panel, the eight Gods of upper world (devas) receiving Rilshabha by the Nilanjanailaya, In the eighteenth panel, he is shown carried in the vimana by the kings. In the nineteenth panel, Vidhyadharas are taking
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Arhat Vacana, October 2000
