Mural Painting of Laxminaryana Temple, Orchha, India: In Context of Space Division, Theme and Contemporary Elements

Orchha mural painting tradition is one of the important mural painting traditions of India because of its strong aesthetical and social content. This mural painting tradition has multi-directional point of view. Use of subject, composition and contemporary elements are a unique part of Orchha mural painting. In the seventeenth century Central Indian “Rajput Gharana (Schooling)” was based on two painting tradition of Malwa and Bundelkhand. Orchha mural painting belongs to Bundelkhand schooling. The mural paintings of Lakshminarayana temple are one of the finest examples of Bundelkhand schooling. Basically, these wall paintings have a strong influence of Rajput Miniature Painting. Linear quality, detailing, multiple perspectives, decoration, characteristic features and ornamentation are very similar to Rajput Miniature Painting. The wall paintings of this temple have a strong composition and space divisional value. Generally, we can see that the temple paintings are mostly related to the religious subject but here a major part is taken from local nature, kings, dynasty, contemporary fighting scenes and local characters. Some of the panels are very much theatrical because of its strong composition and characteristic approach.