- Title
- Rama Shoots a Crow (recto) and Ravana Abducting Sita (verso), Folio from a Vaidehisha Vilasa (The Story of Sita)
- Date Made
- early 19th century
- Medium
- Ink and opaque watercolor on palm leaf
- Dimensions
- Image (recto): 1 3/4 x 14 5/8 in. (4.45 x 37.15 cm); Image (verso): 1 3/4 x 2 1/2 in. (4.45 x 6.35 cm); Sheet: 1 3/4 x 14 5/8 in. (4.45 x 37.15 cm)
- Accession Number
- M.91.300.5
- Collecting Area
- South and Southeast Asian Art
- Curatorial Notes
The Ramayana narrates the epic saga of the valiant Prince Rama and his dutiful wife, Princess Sita, who was abducted by Ravana, the arrogant ten-headed King of Lanka (probably modern Sri Lanka), during Rama's unjust fourteen-year forest exile from his capital of Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. To rescue Sita, Rama and his faithful brother Lakshmana assembled a great army of monkeys and bears led by the Monkey-King Sugriva and his Monkey-General Hanuman. After several magical battles, the princess was freed, and the happy couple triumphantly returned home to rule their kingdom. Rama and Sita epitomize the ideal ruler and the paragon of fidelity in Hindu culture.
The Vaidehisha Vilasa (The Story of Sita), is a vernacular recension of the Ramayana written in the early 18th century by the Odia (Oriya) court poet Upendra Bhanja (1670-1740). Two episodes are depicted on this incised palm leaf folio with opaque watercolor possibly added later:
Recto: Rama and Sita watch a crow that he had just shot with an arrow because it was bothering Sita. The blue-skinned Rama holds a bow and gazes at the wounded crow shown in a cartouche at the left. Sita gestures towards the crow. The setting is a lush forest with flowering plants. Large panel of inscribed text. Red floral borders (slight variations).
Verso: A small panel with Ravana is attempting to cajole Sita prior to abducting her. Predominantly inscribed text. Red border with a scrolling vine (left); denticular pattern (right).
See also M.86.118.2.
