Image: Rama Battles Thataka

Rama Battles Thataka

circa 1750

(Victoria and Albert Museum)

You can read more about Thataka at Wikipedia.

Image: Rama and Sugriva; Rama and Vali

Rama and Sugriva;

Rama and Vali

West Bengal, Murshidabad, circa 1770-1775

(LACMA)

You can read more about Vali at Wikipedia.

Details:

Image: Lakshmana confronts Sugriva

Image source: Lakshmana confronts Sugriva
(British Library: Mewar Ramayana)

From the Library site: At the gate of Kiskindha Laksmana is welcomed by Bali's son, Angada, and other monkeys, while inside the palace the crowned Sugriva, seated with Tara on a couch, is advised by his ministers. An arcade has been added to the side of the palace structure to indicate the gateway. Despite Tara's attempt to calm his passion, Laksmana then angrily reproaches Sugriva for neglecting his side of the bargain with Rama.

Detail:

Hanuman, Rama, and Sita

Hanuman, Rama, and Sita, with Lakshmana
circa 1780
(San Diego Museum of Art)


Detail of Hanuman:

Image: Battle of Lanka

The battle of Lanka
Ravana wounds Lakshmana; Hanuman attacks Ravana
(British Library: Mewar Ramayana)

From the Library site: Ravana has sent out his mightiest warriors to fight the monkey leaders in single combat, but each in turn has been destroyed. He himself took the field, fighting many of the greatest warriors in turn, until he was faced by Laksmana. Pierced in his breast by Ravana's spear, Laksmana falls unconscious to the ground. Meanwhile Hanuman rushes to Ravana's chariot and strikes him with his fist. Ravana reels from this great buffet and falls in a faint. Hanuman picks up Laksmana and carries him tenderly off the battlefield to Rama, at whose feet he lays him down.

Details:

Image: Hanuman

Hanuman Carrying Rama and Lakshmana
Rajasthan, circa 1800
(British Museum)

For more about Hanuman see Wikipedia.

Image: Indrajit in Battle

Indrajit in Battle

(British Library: Mewar Ramayana)

From the Library site: Ravana's magician son Indrajit again advances on the monkey army, having brewed magic potions to make himself invisible at need. From his chariot and from the sky, where he is invisible, Indrajit overwhelms all the monkey leaders as well as Rama and Laksmana with his Brahma-weapons. They lie prostrate on the ground, riddled with arrows. Vibhisana and Hanuman seek out the wise bear Jambavan (also riddled with arrows), who tells Hanuman to look for the medicinal herbs which grow on the peaks of the Himalayas. Hanuman, using his power as the son of the wind god, assumes his true enormous size before taking off to cross the whole length of India.

You can read about the Indrajit's nagapasha, or snake-noose, at Wikipedia: "Upon impact, this weapon would bind the target in coils of living venomous snakes. In the Ramayana, it was used against Rama and Lakshmana by Indrajit."

Details: Indrajit; Hanuman in Giant Size

Image: Hanuman and the Mountain

Hanuman bringing the mountain
to the injured Lakshmana

(Wellcome Images: L0022499 Kalighat)

More about Hanuman and Medicine Hill at Wikipedia.

Image: Hanuman, Rama, and Lakshmana attack Ravana

Hanuman, Rama, and Lakshmana attack Ravana

Kashmir school, late 18th century
(Image source)

Image: Rama and Lakshmana

Rama and Lakshmana fallen on the field of battle,
with Hanuman, Jambavan and their allies standing by

Bahur, circa 1700
(Image source)

Image: Rama and Lakshmana Meet Sugriva

Rama and Lakshmana Meet Sugriva

(British Library: Mewar Ramayana)

From the Library site: Rama and Laksmana have come upon the great monkey Hanuman, son of the wind god and minister to Sugriva, the exiled king of the monkeys. Sugriva's kingdom and wife have been stolen by his brother Bali. Hanuman has brought Rama and Laksmana into the presence of Sugriva on the Risyamuka mountain. Rama and Sugriva swear friendship, clasping hands and walking round a sacred fire kindled by Hanuman, and afterwards promise each other help: Sugriva to recover his kingdom and Rama his wife. Rama and Laksmana are now depicted without their bark garments. Instead they wear skirts of leaves or animal skins with scarves wound round their upper bodies in the Deccani fashion.

Detail: Rama listens to Sugriva's story

and vows friendship to Sugriva.

Image: Rama and the Monkeys Go to Lanka

Rama and the Monkeys Go to Lanka

(British Library: Mewar Ramayana)

From the Library site: Hanuman has leapt back across the ocean and returned to Rama to inform him of Sita's whereabouts. Rama and his army of monkeys set out towards the south and the ocean. He rides on Hanuman and his brother Laksmana rides on Angada. 

See Wikipedia for more about Hanuman and about Angada.

Detail:

Image: Indrajit and Lakshmana

Indrajit fires an arrow at Lakshmana; Rama rides in on Hanuman
(Image source: Walters Art Museum)

More about Indrajit at Wikipedia.

Detail:

Detail:

Image: Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman

Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman
1799
(British Museum)

From the British Museum site: Rāma, Sīta, Lakṣmaṇa and Hanuman; single-page drawing mounted in an album. Scene from a Ramayana depicting Rāma, Sīta, Lakṣmaṇa and Hanuman underneath a tree on a slope.

Image: Life in the forest

Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita in Panchavati
mid-17th-century
(Mewar Ramayana)

You can read about the region of Panchavati at Wikipedia.

Detail:

Image: Rama and Hanuman

Rama sends Hanuman to Lanka

circa 1820

(Victoria and Albert Museum)

From the Museum site: A scene from the Ramayana. Rama instructing Hanuman to go to Sri Lanka to search for Sita. Lakshmana stands on the left.

See also at the British Museum:

From the Museum site: Opaque watercolour painting of a green-complexioned Rāma, seated beneath a tree on a hillock, instructing Hanumān. His right hand, with a conspicuous signet ring on the small finger, is in jnana mudra, and his left rests on the ground. Slung over his right shoulder are his bow and quiver. To the left of the page, the gold-complexioned Lakṣmaṇa waits in attendance with hands folded in anjali mudra. He carries bow and quiver slung over his right shoulder. Both wear a jata makuta (crown of matted hair), symbolizing their status as exiles. Hanumān, also with a green complexion, stands with hands in anjali mudra, listening attentively to Rāma’s words. He wears a short lower garment, the golden tirukkorampam (headdress) around his head, and a bell tied to his tail. Trees, bushes and tufts of grass grow on the slopes of the diminutive hillock.

Detail:

Image: Rama Confronts Ravana

Rama Confronts Ravana
circa 1800
(British Museum)

In addition to Ravana and Rama, you can also see Lakshmana and Hanuman.

Details:

Image: Death of Vali

Death of Vali

Tara holds her dying husband while their son Angada holds his feet and Hanuman kneels beside them; Sugriva speaks with Rama and Lakshmana.

(Philadelphia Museum)

More about Angada and his father Vali at Wikipedia.

Detail:

Image: Rama with Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman

Rama with Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman
Rajasthan, circa 1800
(British Museum)

For more about the ceremonial fly-whisk see Wikipedia.

More information from the Museum site: Rāma stands on a throne, Sīta and Hanuman stand to the right, while Lakṣmaṇa waves a flywhisk to the left.

Image: Rama and Ahalya

Rama and Lakshmana with Ahalya.

Illuminated Ramayana ms., circa 1700,

in the Huntington Archive.

More about Ahalya at Wikipedia.

Details: