The correct option is They are completely distinct and unrelated to the earlier Pallava tradition.
Explanation
The paintings within the Brihadeswara Temple at Thanjavur represent the zenith of the Chola school of painting (11th century CE). These murals are located in the narrow circumambulatory passage surrounding the sanctum sanctorum and are executed using the fresco-secco technique.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement They are completely distinct and unrelated to the earlier Pallava tradition. is Incorrect: The Chola paintings are not completely distinct or unrelated to earlier traditions. They represent a stylistic evolution and continuation of the earlier Pallava (e.g., Panamalai, Kanchipuram) and Pandya (e.g., Sittanavasal) traditions. They share commonalities in line drawing, ornamentation, and the physiological treatment of figures, serving as a link between the classical and medieval phases of South Indian art.
- Statement They were discovered after cleaning the surface painting of the Nayak period. is Correct: For centuries, these Chola masterpieces were hidden beneath a layer of paintings executed during the Nayak period (16th-17th centuries). The earlier Chola layer was discovered in the 1930s when the surface layer began to peel or was removed during conservation efforts.
- Statement They show narrations related to Lord Shiva. is Correct: The thematic content of the paintings is primarily Shaivite. They depict various manifestations of Lord Shiva, including Tripurantaka (destroyer of three cities), Nataraja (Lord of Dance), and Dakshinamurti.
- Statement They include a portrait of Rajaraja Chola. is Correct: The murals contain secular and historical elements alongside religious themes. A notable panel depicts King Rajaraja Chola I paying homage to Lord Nataraja, accompanied by his queens and his spiritual guru, Karuvurar.
Key Takeaway: The Chola murals at the Brihadeswara Temple are classic examples of South Indian painting, characterized by their continuity with Pallava art and their historical preservation beneath later Nayak period overlays.