Image title: Figure 161. Sri Rama

A beautiful sculpture of Sri Rama standing in Ayata Sthana. He is shown in Abhanga posture. His right hand is stretched out and is holding an arrow and his left hand is holding the bow. We can see a quiver of arrows on his back on right side.

Above this on the same pillar we can see the sculpture of Guha, the tribal king. When Rama is exiled and leaves Ayodhya he takes shelter in the house of the tribal king Guha who also helps him to cross the Ganga and reach Citrakuta.

Gallery information:

Kumbakonam is considered as one of the holiest places in Tamil Nadu and is known for its temples and Mathas (monasteries which were centres of Brahmanical learning). These photographs depict the connection between the sculptures in the temples and Natya Shastra and related texts dealing with iconography.