Opaque watercolour painting of the Ranganatha temple at Srirangam, Tamil Nadu. At the centre of the painting is the vimana (main shrine) of the massive temple, but shown exaggeratedly large on account of the presence there of the image of the god - Viṣṇu lying on Ananta. At the top right of the painting is the distinctive oval tank found at Srirangam, while all around the central shrine are the seven prakaras, marked with gopuras (gateways) along each side. Inner courts are filled with small shrines dedicated to minor gods and saints. Around the island (here shown in abstract form as a rectangle), flows the river Kaveri; the temple is seen as a model of the cosmos.

Company School
1830 (circa)
Thanjavur

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