The Muckunda Murals in the Tyagarajasvami Temple, Tiruvarur

The Tyagarajasvami Temple in Tiruvarur, a major historic site in the heart of the Tamil country, has preserved among its many treasures a set of ceiling paintings from the 17th century. These magnificent paintings tell the story of Mucukunda, the monkey-faced Chola king who established Lord Tyagaraja in the Tiruvarur temple. They also offer tantalizing glimpses of daily life, material culture, flora and fauna, temple architecture and ritual performance from this period.