Agasthya chola mural comparison

Agasthya 

In Tamil traditions, Agastya is considered as the father of the Tamil language and the compiler of the first tamil grammar, called Agathiyam or Akattiyam.Agastya has been a culture hero in Tamil traditions and appears in numerous Tamil texts Agastya is one of the most important figures in a number of medieval era Southeast Asian inscriptions, temple reliefs and arts. He was particularly popular in Java Indonesia, till Islam started to spread throughout the islands of Indonesia.He is also found in Cambodia, Vietnam and other regions. The earliest mentions of Agastya is traceable to about the mid 1st millennium CE, but the 11th-century Javanese language text Agastya-parva is a remarkable combination of philosophy, mythology and genealogy attributed to sage Agastya. A comparison between 10th century chola mural at Tanjore big temple and Agastya,  8-9th century,National Museum, Jakarta,Indonesia.

Pic1:The Chola fresco paintings at tajore temple within the circumambulatory corridor Aradhana Mandapam of Rajarajesvaram. At The passage of the corridor.They are the first Chola specimens  were discovered in 1931 by Mr.S.K.Govindasamy of Annamalai University. At the eye level is the depiction of a sage like figure in seated position over a reddish cushion under a banyan tree with his disciples which is  faintly visible in a dull tone and very weak lines. Sage is shown in yellowish color.

Pic2:The sage figure is shown in sitting posture under a banyan tree with his disciples. He is short ,chubby and  pot belled. The sage figure is adorned with an extraordinarily bejeweled with jada mugudam and datura. A long strip of cloth  is twisted and tied around the head in the lower margin of his hairdo.He is shown with well grown ears with a kundalam. He has a long dropping moustache merging with the long thick gray beard. He has shown with opend eyes and eyebrows were shown in thicker and silken white to show his age. His month is open an he is teeth are clearly visible he is uttering some wise words. He is shown with two arms he rests his right hand in his kneecap in a relaxed manner posture. In his left hand he shows katakahastam  which indicates he is busy in teaching. 

In his neck he is wearing a single strand white beads and in his arms he is shown with simple ring type armlet. He wears a single ply type cloth twisting over his body from left to right. He is seated in a relaxed manner  over a red cushioned pitha  with a backrest his right leg is bent and left leg is shown in flat position.His bulky body rest over the bulky cushion. A short tirisoolam is shown near his right leg on the cushion.

Pic3:  A standing agasthya from Banon Temple, Central Java now at Java Central Java Archaeological Heritage Preservation Hall. Agasthya is said to be one of the sapta rishi. Agastya was tasked with spreading saivasiam  from India to the south (Indonesia and the Malay Peninsula). Due to his great service in spreading the religion of Saivisam , Agastya is considered a representation of Shiva. The Agastya statue is depicted as a bearded old man with a thick moustache; having a  pot belly  (distended); using attributes, among others, jatamakuta, chamara, aksamala, kamandalu, and trisulam. Source: Budiarto, Eri, et al. Central Javanese Classical Gods. 

--- Ramu.Rm.N