THANJAVUR: A rare painting of the Thanjavur quartet, who propounded the Thanjavur style of Bharatanatyam over 180 years ago, was found at the mandapam of the Big temple premises in front of the Amman shrine here.
Archeologists led by Kudavayil Balasubramanian found this painting, on the ceiling of the mandapam in front of the Amman shrine of the temple.
According to the researchers, the painting depicted the 19th century quartet, Chinnaya, Ponnaiyah, Sivanandam and Vadivelu, (all of them born between 1802 and 1810) conducting the Nattuvangam for a dance performance.
The reputed quartet were dance teachers at the Big temple during the reign of Serforji II and Sivaji Raja, the Mahratta rulers who ruled over the Thanjavur region after the Naik period.
Their fame was widespread in those days. The quartet were said to have gone on to render their services in various royal courts during their career.
While Vadivelu became a dance master at Thiruvananthapuram during the reign of Swathi Thinal Maharaja, Chinnaiya was under the payroll of the Mysore palace. Navasanthi Kavithuvam, a traditional dance form was pioneered by the quartet, Balasubramaniam said.
