Manikandan punnakkal

The renowned Mural Artist of Kerala. A native of Chalisery in Palakkad District. The greatest ever work is  80 murals in 42 pannels at Historical Vaikom Mahadeva temple in Kerala where he accepted the theme  from the old images and created new pannels.

Other Important works: 
            Ayyappa charitham of the most pious Sabarimala. More than that : Mahabharatha, Ramayana, Vedas and Upanishaths, Christian stories,  Jyothisha & Vasthu images, Yoga and Bhasa Nataka has become subject for this great artist.

Murals of vaikom mahadeva temple and its importance :
            The Vaikom Mahadeva temple  at Kottayam district is one of the famous  historical temple of  Kerala. It has one of the biggest circular sanctum (Vatta sreekovil) in Kerala and it is very famous for its rare collection of Murals.
            Manikandan Punnakkal has worked the Magic of his divine sketches in his works like the 24 panjaras and 26 Darusilpas like  concepts of

Kiratharjuneeya, Salabhanjika, Parvathee Parinayam and addition to this 42 pannels of Murals works of around fifty Dyanaslogas. It took one years’s artistical effort to finish it. His Unique knowledge and effort in the traditional Mural techniques helped Manikandan Punnakkal to accomplish his dream. Murals in Vaikom begins with Sakthipanchakshari and concludes in Mahamrithyunjaya. 
            The old Murals in the Temple were vague and beyond restoration. But  now Manikadan Punnakkal’s clear and unique works gave more beauty and attraction for them. The Murals in  Vaikom Mahaveda temple, denotes that how far a sketch is important for the perfection of the Murals. According to the Mural custom in India  high importance is given to the sketches. Manikandan Punnakkal  absorbed this fact in Vaikom temple. Other than the murals this  genius has shown magic of colours in Panjara’s and Darusilpas in Mahadeva Temple.
            A great number of Murals depicting the puranas and epics and different ideas made the Vaikkom Murals immortal.

The Murals in vaikom mahadeva temple :
           

The concept of Uma-Maheswara :
            Sakthipanchakshari, Pradosha Nritha,  Parvathi, Dhakshina moorthy, Aswarooda, Annapoorneswari, Parvathi with Ganapathi, Ardhanareeswara, Aghora Siva, concept of  Kalakooda, and Mahamrithyunjaya.
            The Concept of Mahavishnu :
            Dyanamoorthi, Prathyaksha Vishnu, worshiping Vishnu, Dhanwanthari, Sudarsana Moorthy, Vishnu with Anantha, Garudavahana Vishnu, and Narasimha.
            The concept of sankaranarayana :
            Sankaranarayana, Mohini, Vettekkaran, Vettasathavu.
            The story of Ramayana :
            The Rama- Ravana  war with its great background, Sitha in Asokavani, sleeping of Kumbhakarna, Angatha beats with his crown,  Meghanathan, Ravana ready for war,  Hanuman with Mrithasanjeevani, Sreerama and Lakshmana, Sugreeva on  Elephant, Sreerama with Bow, Sitha in Panchavati, Sreerama with sitha. The Background of Pattabhisheka.
            Sreekrishnacharitham :
            Sreekrishna, Govardhanodharanam, Chadhuraksharee gopalam, Venugopalam, Sreekrishna with Balarama.
            other conceptS of Puranas :
            Lord Bhrahma, Saraswathi, Ganapathi, Markkandeya, Mahakali, Subramanya,  Dwarapalakas, Durga, Kamadeva, Mahalaskhsmi, War of  Sreekrishna and Asurapakshi  and Bhairavan.
            Pradhosha Nritham, Passion impodiment concept of Aswarooda, Ramayana stories and Parvathi with Ganapathi on her lap are the outstanding among the vaikom murals and more attractive than the other temples works. 

            The Concept of Aswarooda:-
            The concept of Parvati Devi pleasant, reddish in body with cresent who is  bringing the Sadhaka’s favourite women  after winning her heart with passion and binding her with the left hand and with a  gold decorated cane in right hand, mounted on a white horse with dress  and spot  in red. The horse is named   ‘aparajidHa’.  The Aswarooda mural painting at Vaikom Mahdeva Temples a beautiful concept giving the same importance to the Devi and horse. It can be exemplified for excellence of the Artist. The artist are attributing it as the concept of ‘DURGA’. The importance of the mantra of Aswarooda also being described in Silparatnam (16th Century) and
vyshiKathandra.(13th century)

            parvathi with Ganapathi  on her lap.
            It is one of the rare sight of mural painting from the epic concept of Ganapathi and parvathi.  which is being praised as the great example of motherhood and maternal affection of Ganapathi & Paravathi picturised so far.
The Battle of Rama- Ravana
            In this group of work consists of concept from great Epic Ramayana like the enquiry for Setha, scenes from ‘Panchavadi’, Rama & Lakshman torturing Rakhshasas, The killing of Kumbakarna and the End of Ravana are continuasely portrayed. But, more importance is given  Rama- Ravana battle, end of Ravana and Pattabhisheka.
            The battle vigor of Ravana - The lord of Lanka the moral bravery of Srirama in dealing weapons and the scene of clashes are picturised with great excellence. The portrayal through the Pattabhisheka is marvellous.
            The mural at Vaikom mahadeva temple is being portrayed giving equal importance to the stories of Vishnu, stories of Shiva and other Epic Contexts. These murals giving divine charm to the talent of Sri. Manikandan Punnakkal in rennovating the pannels with out losing its uniqueness and basic concepts. 

Sabarimala- Ayyappacharitham.

        The most famous among the murals of Manikandan Punnakkal is the Sabarimala Ayyappacharitham. Sabarimala is the best example for the secular attitude and spirituality of the Keralites. Ayyappacharitham adds colours to the concept.  It begins with symbolic representation in Thanthrik Style. It is a Thrimoorthy concept. Shivalinga- representing the cause of micro universe, Shangh and chakra  symbolising  Mahavishnu as the cause of Existence, and Golden Lotus  for the presence of Brahma, the cause of creation.

           

The importance colour used is red ochre  which is used mostly in Kerala Murals representing Spiritualism. Special colours are attributed to the different sentimental expressions (Rasas) of the characters. The background of Deva- Asura battle is being depicted, giving importance to the dread (Bhayanakam) through the curse of Durvasavu and fear of  Indra. The concept of PARAMASHIVA and VISHNUMAYA which has been the cause of the birth  of  Ayyappa; is being portrayed giving importance to the aesthetic sentiment of Love and Erotic. The beautiful figure of Mohini and dancing postures are examples (sringara). The facial expression of Ayyappa who is mounted on Tiger after  Mahishimardhanam is a mixture of bravery (Veera) and mercy (Karuna)

The VAVAR and the Mosque is being depicted as a symbol of the secular attitude, equality and brotherhood concepts of keralites. The concept of Devi (Malikapuram)  and the Peepel Tree (Saramkuthiyal) are portrayed. Above all the presence of Ganapathi the Dhyanamoorthy with Yogapattam & Abhaya - Varada mudra in Yogasanam is the everlasting symbol of Bhakthi & Mukthi. The colours in the paintings, the background in accordance with the liveliness, instinctiveness and spiritual devotion are the specialities of  Murals of Manikandan Punnakkal.
           

Some of the unique works of Manikandan Punnakkal.
            The Largest collection of murals at Sri K.P. Ravisankar’s home who helped Manikandan Punnakkal to bring out his talents giving him a big canvas at Kunnath, Bemmannur, Paruthipully, Palakkad (Dt) Kerala         
            The subject which made the pannel immortal: Srikrishnacharitham.
                        The birth of Sreekrishna, Vasudeva and Unnikrishna crossing the river with the help of Ananda, Sreekrishnaleela, stealing of butter, stealing of cloths of Gopikas, Kaliyamardhanam, Rugmini swayamvaram, Madhanagopalam, Dharmayudham,  and Viswaroopadarsanam.

Poomulli aramthamburan’s Ayurveda Mana:
            Peringode - Palakkad district- Kerala
            subject of the Pannel : ‘ganapathi prathal’.
            It is the only mural of Ganapathy prathal which has been narrated other than in literary works. It is largest  and greatest among the mural about Ganapathi so far.

Poovar island resort, poovar, Trivandrum.
            Subject of the pannel: History of Ayurveda.
            The mural paintings of History of Ayurveda which has been narrated in the Great Adharva Veda. Visualisation of Ayurveda tradition starting from Lord Brahma and Dhanwandhary and coming through Athreya- Daksha Prajapathi and Aswineedevas and reached in Chyavana- Charaka and Susrutha.

Palette  exhibition 2008 - bangalore.
            Subject of the pannel: Swapana vasavadatham - bhasa.
            These are scenes of Swapna Vasavadatham written by Bhasa who is superior to even Kalidasa. Scene of Vasavadatha reading Goshavathi, scenes of love of Udayanan and Padmavathi etc.

Thrisandhya - Solo painting Exhibition - Durbal Hall Art Gallery, Ernakulam
            Subject of the pannel: Passed Glory and cultural uniqueness of kerala
            Manikandan Punnakkal and his works in this exhibition through paintings other than murals. He expresses his abilities based on  conventional features of painting while integrating the new trends like magic of  fast sketches and novel colours. Anakkaran, Thiriyuzhichil, Pulluvathi. Pookari & Festival are few examples. The cultural heritage of Kerala other than the Gods & Goddesses are the main backgrounds and themes of these paintings and which made Manikandan Punnakkal as an artist of excellence.

National Camps:

• Painter`s Camp,Soorya Festival,Thiruvananthapuram,2003/2004/2008.
• Student Observer,'Dravideeya,'South Indian Traditional Artist's Camp,Kerala Lalithakala Akademi and South Zone Cultural Centre, Thrissur,2004.
• Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangralaya (National Museum Of Mankind) Bhopal,2007.

State Camps:

• Mural Artist's NHCS, Nelliyampathy, Rajakkad Estate,2000.
• Mohanam ,State Mural Painting Camp and Exhibition Peerumedu 2006.
• Neelakurinji, Painters' Monsoon Gathering,Blackberry Hills Munnar 2008.
• Aranyakam, Camp and Wayanad 2007.
• Ganapath, Monthly Camp and Exhibition (The Disciples Of Artist Ganapathy,Peringode)2006-2008.
• Mammiyoor Krishnankutty Nair Commemoration Camp and Exhibition Guruvayur 2003-2004.
• Silpachithra Camp and Exhibition Pattambi,2001.
• Camp and Exhibition Sree Krishna College Guruvayur,2004.
• Camp and Exhibition MES College,Ponnani,2005.
• Painter's Camp,Nehru Yuva Kendra,Thavanur,2001.
• Kerala Folklore Academy Theyyam,Thira Camp,Thrissur,2003.

Solo Exhibition:

• Thrisandhya, Painting Exhibition,Durbar Hall Art Gallery, Kerala Lalithakala Akademi,Eranakulam,2004.
• Unmeelanam Museum Gallery, Thiruvanathapuram,2006.

Exhibitions:

• Durbar Hall Art Gallery,Kerala Lalithakala Akademi,Eranakulam,2003.
• Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangralaya(National Museum Of Mankind) Bhopal,2007.
• Guruvayur Devaswam State Exhibition,Vaijayanthi Buildings,2001.
• Aranyakam Wayanad,2007.
• State Level Exhibition, Temple of Arts,Guruvayur,2001.
• Guruvayur Devaswam State Exhibition in Connection With Guruvayur Ekadasi,2001-2004.
• Kerala Agricultural University Mural Painting Exhibition Mannuthi,2002.
• Palakkad Chithra Kala Trust Painting Exhibition,2008.
• Silpachithra Exhibition,Pattambi,2001.
• Sree Ramakrishna Mission Golden Jubilee Celebration Exhibition,Thrissur,2003.
• Kattumadam Narayanan Commemoration,HS Vannery,2006.

Collections

• K.P.Ravishankar,Kunnathu,Bemmannur,Paruthipully,Palakkad.
• Poomully Aramthampuran's Ayurveda Mana, Peringode.
• Kandath Tharavad,Tenkurussi,Palakkad.
• Blackberry Hills,Munnar.
• Poovar Island Resort,Poovar,Trivandrum.
• Puthlam Bhagavathy Temple Mahi.
• Farely Richmond,The Director Center for Asian Studies,The University of Georgia,USA.
• K.N.Balaraman, Krishna Homes Thrissur.
• Ansul Nagar,Mumbai.
• Saitravel Connexion ,Thrissur.
• Sreechakara International Hotel Palakkad.
• Claudia Orenstein,Hunter College New York.
• David A.Piovanetti-Middleton High School USA.
• Dr.Manoj Ramachandran Coimbatore.
• Anand,Micro Gold Process,Ollur.
• Dr.Usha Nair,Kottayam.
• Sri Mudra Mumbai.
• Keralavarma Library, Vadakanchery.
• Accros India including Bangalore,Mumbai, Delhi and abroad(USA,France,Thailand,Sharjah)