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Today is adi swathi, the auspicious gurupoojai day of Sri Sundaramurti Nayanar. This thread aims at introducing this lesser known but extremely valuable Chola panel that paints his life history for us.
Sundaramurti, the nAyanAr who was a close associate of Sri Tyagarajaswamy, had the most dramatic sequence of events in his life.
A detailed Chola period panel painting in the secret chamber of the Big Temple depicts all the milestone events in his life.
It starts with Sundarar's wedding feast being prepared at Thirunavalur. Take a look at the crockeries and the kitchen setup in the 10th CCE.
Shiva enters the wedding hall in the guise of an old ascetic and stops the marriage quoting a contract of slavery that Sundarar’s grandfather had signed with him(this part of the panel is highly damaged)
The scene shifts to the local court of Tiruvennainalur, where the ascetic submits his documents to the wise men, who verifies them and passes a judgement in favour of Shiva.
Sundarar follows the old man, as his slave, inside the temple of Tiruvennainalur only to realise that it was a divine play by Shiva to bring him into the Shaivite fold. Overwhelmed Sundarar starts singing the praise of Shiva and starts his pilgrimage.
On the request of Cheraman Peruman, Sundarar visits the shrine at Tiruvanjikalam and sings the grace of Anjaikalathappan. Note the bronze icon of Nataraja shown in the painting.
As his time in this world was getting over, Sundarar commenced on his journey to Kailasha, on a white elephant that Shiva has sent for him.
He was closely followed by Cheraman Peruman on a white horse. He holds a whip in his hand to chase people and make way for his dear friend Sundarar.
The duo is welcomed by celestials and escorted to the grand hall at Kailasham.
Cheraman Peruman presents his Tirukailaya Gnana Ula, his travelogue to the sacred Kailasham infront of the divine couple, surrounded by the celestials and other residents of Kailasha.
Its a treat to observe the details and identify all those in audience. It includes Kannappar, Karaikal Ammai, Banasura, 12 Adityas, 11 Rudras to name a few.
These panels inside the sandara corridor are extremely delicate and needs very special care to preserve them.
This panel is a clear depiction of how the stories of the nayanmars were popular even before the times of Sekkizhar and the special love that the Chola kings had for Shiva and his devotees.
வாழி திருநாவலூர் வண்தொண்டர் பதம் போற்றி 
