Kerala Murals – Artful Tribute to the Gods of Malabar

Indian art is of many styles, themes, histories and origins, and one of the most popular themes in the art of India is the admiration of God. Some of India’s most renowned and beautiful art styles, like Thanjavur Painting of Tamil Nadu and Madhubani art of Mithila were primarily made to admire and portray the beauty of God in many forms. One such school of painting is that of mural paintings from God’s own country, Kerala. 

Suggested Read – 15 Types of Indian Paintings That Flourished Through the Ages

Kerala Murals Origin and Rise

Kerala mural paintings have their origins in about the seventh or eighth centuries AD, temples dating to which period are the earliest that have been found. Most paintings have been dated to the period of the ninth to twelfth centuries. Some of the oldest murals, and the oldest extant paintings of the Kerala school of mural paintings can be found on the walls of the rock cut cave temples of Thrunanadikkara and Tiruvanchikulam, dated to about the ninth century AD. Kerala Murals were heavily influenced by Pallava art and culture, since they grew under the Pallavas’ patronage. 

The Kerala mural paintings grew to the pinnacle of their popularity during the medieval ages, starting from about the fourteenth century. Sanskrit texts like the Silparatnam and the Chitrasutram were comprehensive texts that helped artists come up with great works. These were some of the most comprehensive works on paintings and art, it is said that there is no work more detailed about art than the Chitrasutram. 

Decline under Colonialism

With the colonial takeover of the Indian subcontinent, traditional arts declined. Indian art forms became extinct altogether or had to adapt to the tastes of the British to survive the period. Kerala mural arts, thus, began making appearances in churches, but still reached the point of near extinction under the British. Kerala murals were at the cusp of extinction, and their future was uncertain.

Revival of Kerala Murals

Post independence, an active revival of the art was undertaken, both by the government, several organisations and scholars. Interestingly, a massive destruction of the wealth of mural paintings in Kerala in the Guruvayoor temple led to a concerted effort to preserve the art. A fire  in 1970 broke out in the temple, destroying many of its finest masterpieces. Only three artists could be summoned to restore these masterpieces, and this made the temple trust realise the scarcity of mural artists. Hence, one of the bodies that has led the revival of this traditional art form are The Centre for Mural studies, established by the Guruvayoor Devaswom Board, besides the Sree Sankaracharya University in Kallady.

Themes of Kerala Murals

Kerala murals derive their themes from the wealth of Hindu mythology over the centuries. While many art forms remain biassed because of sectarian views, the Kerala murals have a fairly balanced proportion of themes, representing the stories of both Vishnu and Shiva with equal importance. 

Kerala Murals Style

The figures of Gods and humans in the Kerala murals are highly stylized, with exaggerated eyebrows, elongated eyes, hand gestures and voluminous curves. The Gods and humans themselves are dressed in elaborate headdresses and dresses, and there is a soft beauty to these figures. Flora and fauna, however, are represented in a manner closer to life. The murals are vividly coloured with Panchavarna, or five colours- ochre red, yellow ochre, green, black and white, with white being the colour of the wall itself. .

Process of Kerala Murals

The first step in making traditional Kerala murals is the preparation of the granite. Plaster of a mixture of lime and sand is prepared in the ratio 1:2 and applied on the walls, and then the same mixture is applied mixed with cotton. It is followed by twenty to thirty washes of quick lime and tender coconut juice. Red is derived from red laterite, yellow is derived from yellow laterite, white from lime, and black from oil-lamp soot. Leaves of Indigo are squeezed and the extract is used after drying up to be mixed with Eravikkara tree’s leaves’ juice for obtaining the green pigment. The extent of the blue or green in the colour depends on the ratios of the dyes. The binding agent for the pigments is made from tender coconut water and neem leaves.

Kerala Murals in Present Day

While Kerala murals are not at the pinnacle of their popularity, they are undergoing a revival after their near extinction under the British. As a result of the efforts of The Centre for Mural studies and other prominent organisations, there are multiple artists today who replicate the ancient art of Kerala mural painting. However, to sustain its popularity, the art has had to undergo a transformation- many artists are now choosing to paint on canvas or paper with synthetic colours to appeal to a wider audience. The future of Kerala murals seems fairly secure, with the state government taking a special interest in the art, having recently initiated steps to conserve the ancient murals of Mahadeva Temple in Ettumanoor.

Famous Kerala Mural Artists

A popular Kerala mural artist today is Manikandan Punnakkal from Palakkad. Another young artist, Vishnu P Vikraman from Puthenvelikara is a product of the Sankaracharya University’s efforts to preserve the art. This link gives the details and contact numbers of several artists practising the art form here. Top Kerala Mural Artists

Conclusion

Kerala mural paintings are a beautiful and intricate art form that has a rich history and cultural significance in not just the state of Kerala, but that of India as well. It represents centuries of devotion, representing God in all forms and of all sects. It is important that the artists take into account modern demands while retaining its focus around God to increase awareness and popularity, besides preserving the art in its most traditional forms. Additionally, the Common populace must also make concerted efforts to encourage artists and popularise this beautiful art form, representing centuries of the tradition of devotion to God.