Ramayana
Detail Photos
This panel depicts the return of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana back to Ayodhya on top of the Pushpaka Vimana, where they meet with Bharata and his three mothers. Everyone, including Bharata, Shatrughna, Kausalya, Kaikayi, Sumitra, and the men and women of Ayodhya welcome them with Anjali Mudra.
Narrative
- Textual Source
- Ramayana
- Mythological Tale
- The scene depicts Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana returning to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana and completing his years of exile. He reaches Nandigrama, where he meets with Bharata. He is accompanied by Sugriva, Hanuman, Vibhishana, and several other vanaras. There are a group of men and women waiting to welcome them back to Ayodhya. Sita is seated next to Rama. Rama is holding his hands up in vyakhyana mudra, while Bharata and Shatrughna stand near him, holding their hands together in anjali mudra. There is also a sage seen nearby. The lower end of the panel, Rama, Sita, and his brothers, along with Sugriva, Vibhishana, the vanaras including Hanuman, are all visiting the three wives of Dasaratha: Rama's mother Kaushalya, stepmother Kaikeyi, and Sumitra. All three mothers are holding an arati in their hand. An arati is a plate with a lamp, flowers and other auspicious objects placed upon it. They are welcoming Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana back to Ayodhya by using this arati to ward off the evil eye and to invite auspicious beginnings. Everyone except Sita is holding their hands in anjali mudra.
- Episode
- Yuddha kandam
- Position within Narrative Sequence
- 10 out of 10
Iconography
- Primary Deity/Figure
- Sreerama
- Secondary Figures
- Bharathan, Hanuman, Kaikayi, Kausalya, Lakshmanan, Shathrughnan, Sita, Sugrivan, Sumithra, Vibhishanan
- Iconographic Form
- Sreeraman (Vishnu's reincarnation)
- Iconographic Attributes
- Green-skinned Rama, with a red upper garment and red lower garment, with red and green bands on the upper part of the lower garment, is seated in the Pushpaka Vimana. His right leg is completely folded, while his left leg is slightly raised up. His left hand rests above his left knee. His right hand is raised up in Vyakhyana Mudra. He wears ornaments including necklaces, crown, earrings, rings, armlets, bangles, and anklets. Sita is seated beside him, to his right. She is golden-skinned, wearing a lot of ornaments and holding a lotus flower in her right hand. Her left hand is resting on her hips. They are sitting underneath a tiled canopy of the Pushpaka Vimana, which is decorated with flags. There are two white doves above the Pushpaka Vimana. Beside Sita, to her right, is Lakshmana, golden-skinned, with green upper garment, holding his hand in Vyakhyana Mudra. Beside him is golden-skinned Sugriva, holding his hand up in Vyakhyana Mudra. Beside Sugriva is Vibhishana, green-skinned, large eyes, fangs, and hands held up in Vyakhyana Mudra. Above them are different Vanaras and rakshasas of Sugriva, rakshasas accompanying Rama to Ayodhya. There is Hanuman to the left of Rama. He has his hands folded in Anjali Mudra. He is white-skinned, having a red face. Beside Rama is white-skinned Bharata, along with green-skinned Shatrughna and a sage beside them. Above, on the top right corner of the panel, are several men and women depicted, all of them raising their hands together in Anjali Mudra. Below the panel, there is again green-skinned Rama and yellow-skinned Sita standing with folded arms in front of their mothers Kaushalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra respectively. Kaushalya is green-skinned, Kaikeyi is golden-skinned, while Sumitra is also green-skinned. They are all holding a plate on their hands, each with a lamp or diya and other auspicious objects filled within it. Behind Sita stands Bharata with folded arms in Anjali Mudra, golden-skinned Lakshmana, and green-skinned Shatrughna. Behind them is golden-skinned Sugriva. There is also Vibhishana with fangs and green skin, standing beside them. There is also white-skinned Hanuman visible among the group. There are also several other Vanaras in attendance, all holding their hands up in Anjali Mudra.
- Visual & Formal Features
- Background pattern, Facial expression detail, Hand gesture (mudra), Ornamentation
- Rasa
- Shanta
Spatial & Architectural
- Temple
- Palace interior
- Zone within Temple
- Ramayana Chamber
- Position in Pradakshina Sequence
- Not Applicable
- Adjacent Panels
- Ramayanam and Ramayanam
Condition & Documentation
- Condition
- Good
- Deterioration Type
- Pigment loss
- Restoration Status
- Partially restored
- Documentation Type
- DSLR full panel
- Permission Basis
- ASI permission
- Date of Documentation
- 01/08/2024
- Artist
- Unknown
- Identifier
- MCP_P036
- Rights / Notes
- These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.
