Mural Paintings in Kerala

The mural painting in Kerala is originated from a distinct temple culture. The scenes from Hindu Mythology form the subjects for mural paintings. The highly colorful background was formed by paintings of flowers, gardens, trees, animals and other natural elements. A kerala mural is a painting mainly seen on the walls, ceiling, of temples and palaces. The earliest evidences of mural painting in Kerala are the rock paintings of Anjanad valley in Idukki.

The dominant colours are ochre-red, ochre-yellow, bluish green and pure green. Natural colours are used for mural paintings. White is prepared from lime, black from soot of oil- lamps, red from vermilion, yellow from realgar, blue from plants like Neela Amari and green from local mineral called Eravikkara. For mixing colours wooden utensils are used and the extracts from tender coconut water and neem tree are used as binding agent. Brushes for mural paintings are made from hairs of calve’s ear, goats belly, and from delicate blades of grass. Mural paintings are done on well arranged walls. First the design is outlines with charcoal or cow dung crayons, which is then painted with appropriate colours.

In mural painting, the characters are portrayed according to the three qualities assigned namely, SATWA the noblest, RAJAS the active and the middle, and TAMAS the dark and destructive. Green colours are used to paint Satwik characters, red to golden yellow are to paint Rajas, and white and balck to Tamasik characters.

The murals of Tirunandikkara (now in Kanyakumari district) and Tiruvanchikulam are reckoned as the earliest specimens of Kerala painting. The painting in the Mattancheri palace of Krishna holding aloft Govardhan for example is a typical example in which minute details of wooded mountain are elaborately depicted. The churches of Kerala contain paintings which portraits characters and scenes from Christian mythology. The paintings of Virgin Mary in the churches at Edappalli and Vechur are of deep religious significance to the devotees. The Orthodox Syrian churches at Cheppad at Mulanthuruthi contain interesting murals. The frescos at Mar Sabore and Aforth Church, Akapparambu are full of characters and tales from the Bible. The outer walls of the Kanjur church have a huge mural which depicts the scene of a battle fought between the armies of Tipu Sultan on the one side and those of the English East India Company, aided by the bare - footed local militia, on the other. The palaces at Padmanabhapuram, Krishnapuram Palace, Kayamkulam and Mattancheri are the important sites of Kerala Murals. The temples at Panayannarkavu, Pundareekapuram, Pandavam, Trissoor, Chemmanthitta, Kaliampally, Trikodithanam, Ettumanur, Vaikom, Udayanapuram, Triprangode, guruvayoor and Thodeekkalm are equally famous for its frescoes.The religious texts provide the subjects for murals. Flaura and fauna are pictured as backdrops.

Kerala holds the second place, with a large collection of archeologically important mural sites in India. Evolved as a compliment to her unique architectural style, these wall paintings are characterized by their liner accuracy, the adherence to color symbolism elaborate ornamentations and sensitive portrayal of emotions. Sharp lines from the Skeletal support for the body of kerala murals and this unique features makes it distinguished and rich. Subjects for the murals are varied with gods, goddesses, saints, kings, birds, animals, plants, trees, creepers and flowers all in their natural splendour most commonly seen.

Srikumara's Silparatna, a sixteenth century sanskrit text on painting and related subjects must have been enormously useful to contemporary and later artists.

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