WALL PAINTINGS ON THE TEMPLES OF HIMACHAL

The most significant painting of the Rama legend which is preserved in a very good state is an illustration of Rama and Sita sitting on a throne under a canopy inside a shamiana surrounded by the ladies of the palace, while Hanumana and Sugriva are paying homage to them. A very effective use has been made of space in illustrating this small panel. Rama and Sita are in the main shamiana and the courtiers are shown seated in a Separate shamiana in the compound. In another corner of the compound, female musicians and dancers are performing. On both sides of the composition are palace balconies from which royal ladies are shown observing the festivities in the compound.

A beautiful illustration of the samudra - manthana or churning of the sea for nectar by the devatas and rakshasas is also found here. Two panels depict Vishnu reclining on the Sesanaga while Lakshmi is pressing his feet.

There are only two panels illustrating secular scenes. One illustrates Bhagwan Narayana Das (to whom the execution of the paintings is attributed by the matha authorities) conversing with Jahangir. In the other panel is painted a marriage pandal decorated with leaves and parrots, which is very similar to a scene illustrated in the Pindori paintings."*

There are also a number of paintings in several rooms of a matha (monastery) at Dharmasala and many of these are secular. They are much more recent and some of the legendary characters have been shown with turban and beard borne in the Sikh fashion.

Wall painting of the Western Himalayas by Dr. Mira Seth(1976), (page54)

[ Back ] [ Up ]