L’enfant-saint qui fait empaler les ennemis de Siva. La narration figurée d’un épisode de la vie de Campantar à Tirupputaimarutur et à Avutaiyarkovil (Tamilnadu)

Abstract

This paper provides sculptural and pictorial evidence of a famous episode of the life of the Tamil Sivaite saint Campantar, whose exploits are known from such works as the Periyapura_am, which narrates the lives of the Nayanmars. An ordeal was held at the court of the pa__ya king Ne_umara_ which ended up with the Jain opponents of the saint being impaled. Early sculptural records of the episode are found in the Melakkatampur and Darasuram temples, while complex, later fresco cycles are observable in the temple of Tirupputaimarutur near Tirunelveli and, twice, at Avutaiyarkovil, near Pudukottai. The representations differ for many an aspect, and a close analysis of the scenes is provided. The author could not complete her work, which was to include the description of the fresco cycle in the temple in Madurai.