Mural Paintings – Depicting the Life of Sri Adi Sankaracharya

This initiative focuses on preserving the ancient Kerala-style traditional mural paintings that adorn the rooms/walls of Adi Sankara Nilayam, the maternal birth-home of Sri Adi Sankaracharya. By becoming a part of this initiative, one is joining hands for a noble mission to preserve the traditions and art.

Adi Sankara Nilayam currently houses two sets of mural paintings, one by artist Sri. Gopi Chevayoor and the other by artist Sri. Ajithan Puthumana. Both these paintings represent the significant incidents in the life of Sri Adi Sankaracharya. The first set of mural paintings depict the stories of Sri Adi Sankara’s parents Sivaguru and Aryamba praying for a child, Sankara’s birth, his Upanayana, the famed incident from the Kanakadhara-stotra, Vidyarambha, his devotion towards Lord Shiva, the crocodile incident, Sankara seeking apat-sannyasa and so on.

The second set shows Sankara reaching Omkareswar on the banks of River Narmada and his meeting with his Guru, Govinda Bhagavatpada. There are also paintings of several other important instances including Sankara’s Digvijaya, the establishment of the Mathas, Sarvajna-peetharohana and His Mahasamadhi.