Kashyap Muni

Murals are glorious paintings, easily recognizable through their characteristic warmth, subtle shading, elaborate ornamentation with categorically divine or mythological figures. Kerala, in particular has a rich and long tradition in mural arts dating back to the seventh and eighth century AD. Its temples, palaces, churches are adorned with rich mural paintings, oldest being found in the rock cut cave temple of Thrunanadikkara (assigned to the period between 9th and 12th century AD), now a part of Tamil Nadu.

The period between 14th-16th centuries was the golden-age of mural paintings that became more prolific and grandeose. The Ramayana and Girija-kalyanam panels of Mattanchery Palace; and the ones at Vadakkumnatha, Thrissur; Siva temple, Chemmanthitta; Kudamaloor and Thodeekkalam are regarded as the best illustrations of the art of this period. Those in Padmanabhapuram palace (the Ananthashayi painting) and Krishnapuram palace (the Gajendramoksham panel) are considered the best of this period.