South Indian temple architecture is in a class all of its own. A carefully crafted panel such as the one you see on this page is reproduced from a section of the ceiling or high up on the walls. It is a wide, narrow panel fashioned from wood, etched with the images of important Hindoo deities and Southern saints elevated to the status of paraloka (otherwordly realm, usually implies heaven). Each of them has been carved with considerable attention to detail and iconography, despite the scale on which the work is done.In keeping with the traditional style of these panels, the central figures are seemingly held up by a row of mythical creatures seated in the lower reach. Those minor but skilfully done figures are punctuated by giant lotus pedestals.
