Ravana
circa 1830
From the Museum site: Opaque watercolour painting of the dark-complexioned, ten-headed and twenty-armed Ravaṇa. On each of his foreheads is a tripundra (three horizontal lines). All around him are severed heads and arms which were once his own, although he is capable of regenerating new limbs. In his right hands he carries a pasha (noose), bow, sword, hala (plough), shakti (spear), trishula (trident), kattar (dagger), gada (mace) and a second pasha. In his left hands are an arrow with multiple tips (probably one of his magical weapons), another pasha and kattar; the fourth hand is empty, while the others hold a bow, arrows, a sword with an S-shaped blade, a sword with a curved blade and a gada. His central right hand is empty, and his central left holds a buckler. A quiver hangs from his left shoulder. He is dressed in a dhoti and his chest is covered by a golden kavacha (armour). The brisk pace at which he proceeds is shown by the angle at which his jewellery is depicted.
