Image: Battle at Lanka

Ramayana Battle Scene

(British Library: Mewar Ramayana)

From the Library site: Rama has divided his forces, sending the chief monkeys with their separate armies to the four gates of the city. The allies launch a general attack on Lanka, in which many marvellous feats of skill and daring are performed. Rama has sent Angada to Ravana with a message about his impending doom. Enraged, Ravana orders him to be put to death but Angada breaks free (top right) and creates havoc among the demons before escaping. Ravana ascends to the roof of his palace and orders a sortie. Sahib Din combines a bird's eye viewpoint with a conceptual rendering of Lanka allowing him to use a great depth in his paintings in this book.

Detail: Angada's Mission; battles scenes.

Image: The Siege of Lanka

The Siege of Lanka,

circa 1640

(Huntington Archive)

Detail:

Image: The Monkeys Encircle Lanka

The Monkeys Encircle Lanka

(British Library: Mewar Ramayana)

From the Library site: Ravana has sent out spies to assess his enemy's strength and now takes counsel with them and his ministers. Meanwhile, Rama confers with his allies - the monkeys headed by Sugriva, the bears under their king Jambavan, and the friendly demons under Vibhisana - as to the best plan of assault. The monkeys begin to surround the city in preparation for the attack. Ravana directs Lanka's defences, having placed key demons at the city gates and in the centre. Rama has now decided to climb the nearby Mount Suvela from which there is a splendid view of the city of Lanka "as if suspended in the air."

Details: Rama and his allies; Ravana.

Image: Rama and Lakshmana Fallen

(British Library: Mewar Ramayana)

Sita flies over the battlefield where she sees

Rama and Lakshmana are fallen,

Indrajit in battle

Ravana in court / Sita in the Ashoka grove

From the Library site: Indrajit, Ravana's son and a great magician, has made himself invisible and has pierced Rama and Laksmana with his magic weapons. Sahib Din suggests his invisibility by having him appear over the horizon (top left). Rama and Laksmana lie on the battlefield ensnared in these serpentine weapons, while the monkeys give way to despair. Indrajit returns in triumph to his father Ravana, who rises from his seat to congratulate him. Ravana then makes one of the female demons take Sita in his magic chariot over the battlefield to see her husband and his brother apparently lying slain. They are eventually released from their serpentine coils by the god Visnu's mount, the eagle Garuda, who comes down from heaven to rescue them.

Details:

Image: Ravana Prepares for Battle

Ravana Prepares for Battle

(British Library: Mewar Ramayana)

From the Library site: Cured of their wounds, the allies rejoin battle. Now Ravana's magician son Indrajit has finally been slain by Laksmana. Shaking off his grief, Ravana prepares himself for a final great effort. Having taken a bath within his tents, he emerges clad in golden armour and mounts his battle chariot drawn by eight white horses. Chowrie (fly-whisk) bearers, Brahmins, trumpet blowers and drummers salute him as he sets out with his troops. The bath prior to a battle is a Rajput convention not in the Ramayana text. Sahib Din depicts Ravana's tents in the imperial Mogul colour of red which they alone were allowed to use.

Detail: