🧠Summary
Kerala Mural Paintings are a sacred Dravidian art form originating as early as the 8th century CE. These vivid temple wall paintings blend mythology, ritual, and symbolism using natural pigments and handmade brushes. Traditionally painted on temple walls, they portray divine stories from Hindu epics in five base colors. The mural-making process involves six distinct stages, from surface prep to spiritual detailing. Kerala’s mural tradition continues today through revival schools and temple projects preserving this rich cultural legacy.
💠Kerala murals evolved from ancient Dravidian temple art
💠Use only natural, symbolic colors tied to Hindu cosmology
💠Created using six-step techniques on lime-plastered walls
💠Influenced by epics like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and sacred texts
💠Characters are colored based on Satwika, Rajasic, and Tamasic traits
💠Survived colonial decline via post-independence revival efforts
💠Now taught in institutions like Guruvayur and Kalady, blending heritage with modern relevance
Brushed onto temple walls in strokes of red laterite and coconut soot, Kerala Mural Paintings are more than art—they are living myths in color. The state of Kerala, “known as ‘God’s own country,” has a diverse range of religious influences in its crafts, which are preserved and protected for traditional and cultural preservation.
Mural painting, practiced in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, is one such art style with a strong religious impact. This art style represents the pinnacle of India’s creative legacy. Kerala’s mural painting art is noted for its quality, displaying a wonderful narrative in clear and powerful strokes with brilliant and lovely colors.
✔️“Kerala Mural Painting” has its origin in the ancient “Dravidian art form,” which dates back to the 8th century C.E. (Common Era).
✔️The foundation for these paintings can be found in the Sanskrit texts, “Chithrasoothram” - (Chitrasutra is a section of the Vishnu Dharmottara Purana, a book composed in Sanskrit around 1500 years ago).
✔️This magnificent art form prospered under the patronage of the monarchs of the erstwhile “princely state of Travancore.”
✔️Additionally, this art form gained prominence in the 15th and 16th centuries during the reign of the “Zamorin of Calicut.”
✔️The “Kerala Murals,” which were painted in temples and palaces, were visual narratives that reflected religious and mythological themes. The themes of these folk paintings were inspired by Hindu epics like the “Ramayana” and “Mahabharata,” as well as tales from ancient scriptures.
✔️Apart from the “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana,” writings that influenced these paintings are 15th Century “Tantrasamuchhaya” on temple architecture by Narayana, 16th Century “Shilparatna” by Sreekumara, and “Kumarasambhava” by Kalidasa.
✔️“Kerala Mural Paintings” are characterized by their brilliant colors, meticulous artistry, and harmonious compositions and patterns.
✔️The “Vishnudharamotaram,” a Sanskrit text dating to the fifth or sixth century C.E., discusses the method and process of creating Indian wall murals.
Two ancient mural techniques are commonly used:
The artists who paint utilize a special and unique technique known as “Tempera,” which incorporates natural hues sourced from minerals, stones, and plants. These hues/colours are blended with a binding agent/medium, such as tamarind seed glue or lime juice, to produce long-lasting paint.
The other method is “Fresco,” in which paintings are done when the surface of the wall is still wet so that the pigments go deep inside the wall surface. This method creates a durable bond between color and surface, giving murals their iconic matte glow.
Both methods require immense patience, spiritual discipline, and a strong grounding in Indian shilpa shastra (art science).
Initially, the artists prepare the surface that is to be painted. Traditionally, the surface is prepared by applying a lime and sand combination to provide a smooth and even foundation. Contemporary artists also paint on fabrics, canvas, wood, and ornamental objects. Every step—done by hand—requires spiritual focus, natural materials, and precise technique.
Here’s how a Kerala mural painting traditionally comes to life:
The artist proceeds with “Lekhya Karma,” which is the fundamental drawing that the artist renders on the wall. It serves as a guiding framework, helping the artist visualize the complicated patterns.
✔️The artist begins by preparing the surface—usually a mix of lime and sand, creating a smooth canvas.
✔️The artist prepares the sketch by a mixture of cow dung ash with water or coconut water, using handmade brushes.
✔️This step acts as the spiritual blueprint for the mural.
The next stage is known as “Rekha Karma,” in which the artist uses cow dung pencils called “Kittalekhini” to strengthen the linework by tracing it and improving the forms and shapes to be filled in.
✔️Shapes and proportions are refined
✔️This step reinforces the sacred geometry of the composition
In this stage (Varna Karma), the artist proceeds with the bright portions first and then goes to the deeper shades, employing “Panchavarna” —five sacred colors: Red, Yellow, Green, White, and Black
✔️Bright shades are added first, followed by deeper tones
✔️Colors are symbolic and correspond to character traits (see next section for meanings)
This stage (“Vartana Karma”) involves shading and rendering to add depth and dimension to the mural. Tonality is imparted at this stage to the depiction by darkening and lightening as needed. Shading techniques are applied to give dimension, light, and volume.
✔️Artists use natural gradations and contrast
✔️This step brings emotional expression into the figures
“Bamboo sticks” or “Soft Brushes” are used in this stage of “Lekha Karma” to establish the final contours of the painting.
✔️This refines features, expressions, and divine symbolism
✔️Every stroke is deliberate and filled with intention
In this final stage, the artist applies the finishing touches and refines the details. Following the completion of the Mural, the artist covers it with pine resin and oil to preserve it and give it a high-gloss finish.
✔️Polishing details
✔️Coating with a mix of pine resin and natural oil for durability and glow
✔️The mural is left to naturally cure, becoming a part of the sacred space it adorns
This ancient process—unchanged for centuries—makes every Kerala mural a spiritual offering, not just an artwork.
In Kerala mural painting, color is never just decorative — it holds symbolic power. The five primary shades, known as Panchavarna (Sanskrit: “Five Colors”), are drawn from nature and represent deeper spiritual energies. These colors aren’t chosen randomly — they reflect the moral and emotional qualities of each character, inspired by ancient Hindu philosophy.
✔️The leaves of “Neelamari (Indian Indigo; Indigofera tinctoria )” plant are squeezed to extract the green colour.
✔️Wooden utensils are used for mixing the colors
✔️The binding media used is derived from tender coconut water
✔️Extracts from the Neem tree (Azadirachta indica).
The figures in the murals are colored based on their traits as depicted in the Hindu legendary texts. In Kerala murals, the skin color of each figure is a clue to their inner nature, based on Guna (qualities of being):
✔️Green >> Satwika - spiritual, divine, virtuous, and balanced
✔️Golden Yellow / Crimson - Rajasic - material prosperity, ambitious, authoritative.
✔️White or Black >> Tamasic - Evil, wicked, and nasty characters are often drawn
Although Kerala mural art flourished in ancient temples and palaces, it faced decline during the colonial era. Under British administration, the mural art form suffered enormously, it even moved towards the danger of extinction. However, after India’s independence in 1947, a revival of mural tradition in Kerala took place as major temples in Kerala.
The Centre for Study of Mural Paintings, a school established by the “Guruvayur Dewaswom Board” in Kerala’s Thrissur district under the chief instructorship of “Mammiyoor Krishnan Kutty Nair”, and the “Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit” in Kalady under the instructorship of “Dr.Saju Thuruthil” represent this revival phase.
Moreover, various organisations, like the “Kerala State Archeology Department,” “Vastu Vidya Gurukulam Aranmula,” “Kerala Lalitha Kala Academy,” and “Kumaran Asan National Institute of Culture,” are actively participating in promoting and preserving this unique art form, providing training sessions and programs all throughout India to impart the knowledge and abilities needed to produce “Kerala Mural Paintings.”
Art students learn through rigorous multi-year training under masters
Programs teach both traditional wall techniques and modern formats (on fabric, canvas, wood)
Artists continue to serve both ritual purposes and global audiences
They are known for vivid natural colors, mythological themes, and spiritual symbolism.
The Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Puranas are the primary inspirations.
Artists use tempera and fresco techniques with natural pigments and plant-based binders.
On temple walls, palace interiors, and now on fabric, canvas, and wood.
It means “five sacred colors”: red, yellow, green, black, and white, each with symbolic meaning.
Institutions like Guruvayur Devaswom Board and scholars like Mammiyoor Krishnan Kutty Nair led the revival.
Yes, contemporary artists create custom murals and teach the tradition globally.
1. Kerala Murals by DR. M. NAMBIRAJAN AND DR. S. SURESH
2. Mural Paintings of Andhra by MYNENI KRISHNAKUMARI
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