Dashāvatāra (Ten Incarnations of Vishnu) painted on the ceiling of the Virupaksha Temple
Dashāvatāra (Ten Incarnations of Vishnu)
The image shows a part of the murals painted on the ceiling of the Ranga Mantapa of the Virupaksha Temple located in Hampi, Karnataka, India. Check the Hampi Virupaksha Temple Murals for the other images and a detailed explanations of the murals.
As you can see from the image, the panel has 12 frames, of which two frames at the end are not part of the Dashāvatāra.
The avatars are painted in the chronological order from left to right. The list below provides a brief explanation of the avatars.
1. Matsyavatara – Human face with the body of a fish
2. Kurmavatara – Human face with the body of a turtle
3. Varahavatara – Human body with the face of a wild boar
4. Narasimhavatara – Human body with the face and claws of a lion
5. Vamanavatara – Vamana is carrying a wooden umbrella.
6. Parashurama – Parashurama is holding an axe, his signature weapon
7. Rama
8. Krishna – Krishna is killing Kaliya, a serpent causing trouble in the Yamuna River
9. Buddha
10. Kalki – Kalki is riding a galloping white horse
The two end frames depict Rathi and Manmatha. Riding a horse on the left end is Rathi, and riding an elephant at the right end is Manmatha, and each is holding a bow and arrow.
Other Paintings in the Virupaksha Temple Murals
– Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma
– Girija Kalyāna, Sita Swayamvara, Draupadi Swayamvara
– Dashāvatāra, Ashta Dikpālas
– Tripurantaka, Manmatha Vijaya
Related Pages
Hampi Virupaksha Temple Murals
Copyright © 2019 by Lawrence Rodrigues. All rights reserved.