Gouache painting on paper from an album of eighty-two paintings of Hindu deities. Viṣṇu, shown here as Kūrma, supports Mount Mandara on his shell, around which the five-headed serpent Vásuki is coiled. At the summit of the mountain is a temple topped by a golden roof on which are four golden kalashas. Near the heads of Vásuki stands a dark skinned figure sporting a Shaiva tripundra (three lines) on his forehead and a moustache, clad in short trousers. Near its tail is Vali, with a Vaishnava namam (emblem), dressed in courtly attire and wearing a crown. These two figures represent the asuras and devas who pull Vásuki's head and tail.

Company School
1850 (circa)
Tamil Nadu

Anna Dallapiccola writes:
Surprisingly, there is no hint here of a seascape, or of the many precious objects recovered during the churning of the ocean. This drawing refers to an incident narrated in the Kishkindha kanda of Kamban’s Ramayana: during the churning of the ocean, owing to the friction Mount Mandara lost its shape and Vásuki spat fire. Vali, to whom Siva gave superhuman strength, completed the churning singlehanded.

Image and text credit:
© Trustees of the British Museum