WALL PAINTINGS ON THE TEMPLES OF HIMACHAL

Dr. Mira Seth remarks: -"In the earliest wall paintings in the Himalayas, secular scenes are rarely found. Narmadesvara is an exception of this. In one panel is depicted Raja Sansar Chand standing in a forest. In another, be is shown standing with his courtiers in front of a Guru behind whom is illustrated a small temple. There is an illustration of the town of Vrindavana and finally, a beautiful hunting scene showing rajas and nobles out-hunting on horse back painted in very -vivid red, maroon, orange, green, blue and brown colors".*

Gaurishankara temple on a hill top above Narmadesvara temple stated to be built by Raja Sansar Chand in A.D. 1804 has also a number of remarkable paintings." "Architecturally, the Gaurishankara temple is somewhat unconventional as it does not follow the norms laid down in the ancient treatises on temple architecture. The images of Siva and Parvati also do not conform to the conventional iconographic types. Siva here looks like a pahadi young man and Parvati has the features of a Rajput woman of the hills. Its non - conformity may be partly explained by the fact that it was not meant to be a temple for the public but only a private chapel.

Sansar Chand lived in this fort after his political ambition of dominance over the entire hill region had ended due to the Gorkha invasion and subsequent Sikh domination. It seems that Sansar Chand then devoted his entire time and declining energies to his favourite pastime-the pursuit of pleasure. According to the legend he shut himself up in this fort with his favourite dancing girl Jamalo and refused to see his courtiers. The courtiers would come up to the fort, salute a tree standing in front of the royal apartments and depart, having paid their homage through the tree to their prince.

*Wall Paintings of Western Himalayas by Dr. M. Seth (page 51).

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