Anantasayanam — The Cosmic Repose

This panoramic work retells Anantasayanam — the moment between two cycles of creation, when Mahavishnu rests upon the coiled serpent Ananta on the milk ocean. 

 On the far left the five hoods of Ananta rise as a canopy, and Lord Brahma  rises from the navel of Lord Mahavishnu sitting on a full bloomed lotus and the mind-born sages with palms joined.  On the extreme right below stands    Lord Krishna  and Lord Rama and above them the Drishti, the  Garuda, the horse-faced attendants, bearded rishis and small princely figures, all leaning inward toward the Lord.  The right hand of Mahavishnu holding a koovalam leaf, rests above the Shivalinga representing Lord Shiva.                                                              

Below the entire scene a band of lotus ponds, curling waves, fish and leaves carries the eye across the width of the painting, grounding the divine event in the living, breathing water of the world. Two sun-and-moon discs in the upper corners mark the passage of time that the Lord's rest suspends.