direction the devotee is expected to walk. The elephants are not exact copy of each other, rather show different natural expressions and playfulness of elephants. Some show elephants in war, throwing enemies; while others show them teasing the riders in front. The band above the elephants is of horses with armed riders, depicting a military march. In some spots, camels substitute for horses suggesting that the Hoysala had adopted camels into their army. Some spots also show battle scene with horses. In various places, the artists added humor by placing dwarfs and monkeys supporting the front raised leg of the horses. The band above the horsemen friezes is a scroll of nature. It shows flowers, fruits, occasionally some peacocks and wildlife. The band above it is the mythology frieze. It is about 7 inches tall, around 2.5 feet above the platform, and it depicts the legends and spiritual stories found in the Ramayana (up to face 5), the Puranas particularly the Bhagavata Purana (from face 6 to 11) and lastly the Mahabharata. There are numerous panels around the temple that tell the various Hindu fables and stories. Ramayana Only the early parvas of the Ramayana are depicted. A few shown at the Kesava temple include: Dasharatha makes ritual offerings and prayers for children. Rama and his brothers are born. Babies rocked in cradles, another frieze shows Rama and his brothers crawling on all fours. School life, martial lessons. Young Rama slays Tataka to protect the Rishis. Vishvamitra, Rama and Lakshmana at Janaka's court. Another shows Sita marrying him. Married Rama and his brothers in Ayodhya. Rama, Lakshmana and Sita leave for their exile. They wander in forests and meet various sages. Viradha attacks Sita, Rama slays him. Surpanakhi episode. Golden deer legend. Ravana abducts Sita. Another frieze shows him slaying Jatayu. Hanuman and Sugriva meet and join Rama. The rest of the Ramayana is not depicted, and the Bhagavata Purana starts thereafter. Bhagavata Purana The band around the western shrine depicts the Bhagavata Purana. Some scenes of the Bhagavata are repeated. A few of the legends from it shown at the Kesava temple include: Reclining Vishnu in the cosmic ocean story. Vasudeva's marriage legend. Baby Krishna being carried across the river by Vasudeva. Various friezes of baby Krishna feeding in Gokula, rocked in cradle, crawling on all fours. Krishna kills Putana and Sakatasura. Toddler Krishna steals butter. Krishan lifts Govardhana.