Image: Rama and Sita Enthroned

Rama and Sita Enthroned

Thanjavur, circa 1830

(British Museum)

From the Museum site: Opaque watercolour painting of Rāma and Sīta, enthroned in a palatial hall in Ayodhya, surrounded by Rāma’s three brothers – Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata holding a fly whisk and Shatrughna carrying the umbrella – and the seven mythical rishis. In the foreground Hanumān sits on his coiled tail supporting Rāma’s foot and a priest performs the fire oblation amid Rāma’s allies and courtiers. At the left, Sugriva distributes presents to the guests. A horse and an elephant, symbols of kingship, are at the bottom of the page.

Image: Valmiki's Hermitage

In Valmiki's hermitage, 

Lava and Kusha recite the Ramayana,

while Shatrughna listens.

(British Library: Mewar Ramayana)

From the Library site: Rama's reign did not end happily. The people again began to criticise Rama for taking Sita back into his house and to appease them Rama sent Sita away to the hermitage of the sage Valmiki on the banks of the Ganges. There she gave birth to twin sons Lava and Kusa. In this picture Rama's brother Satrughna is returning with his attendants to Ayodhya from his kingdom of Madhu for the first time in twelve years and halts at Valmiki's hermitage. There he hears Lava and Kusa singing the story of Rama. The omniscient sage Valmiki composed his epic poem on the deeds of Rama and Sita and taught it to the two boys. When Rama later decided to perform the horse-sacrifice, suitable for only the greatest of kings, he camped near Valmiki's hermitage. Valmiki sent the two boys to chant his epic before him. From Lava and Kusa's first recitation of the story before Rama himself is reckoned the dissemination of the story which has been the basis of countless works of verse, prose and drama, and sculpture and painting, throughout India and Southeast Asia.

Detail:

Image: Shatrughna Slays Lavana

Shatrughna Slays Lavana

(Freer Ramayana; Mughal dynasty circa 1600)

You can read more about Lavana (Lavanasura) at Wikipedia.

Detail:

Image: Bharata and Satrughna console Kausalya

Image source: Bharata and Satrughna console Kausalya

Detail:

Image: Marriage of Dasaratha's four sons

Image source: Marriage of Dasaratha's four sons

Detail: