Hanuman and the Sea Demon
(Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok)
On the Ramayana mural at the Emerald Buddha Temple, a detail shows the monkey god Hanuman entering a demon guardian's mouth as he attempts to cross the sea to Lanka. Hanuman has reached the sea around the demon king Ravana's island of Lanka and must pass by a huge female guard before he can visit Prince Rama's kidnapped wife Sita and tell her that Rama and the monkey armies are coming to save her.
Hanuman makes himself small emough to enter the fanged mouth of the demon, here seen with round bulging eyes and gold jewelry over her bare chest. The demon's right arm is raised high above her head ready for attack. She is ornamented on the mural with gold leaf paint. As the demon stands waist deep in the rough sea, Hanuman descends through her mouth to her stomach. He then stabs her from the inside so he can continue his journey to find Sita.
