Demons Approaching Rama and Lakshmana at a Fire Ceremony (Homa) (painting, recto), illustration from a Ramayana series
18th-19th century
Description
The painting depicts Rama, the blue-skinned, seventh avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, and his brother, Lakshmana, firing arrows at a group of demons. The horned demons wield weapons. Some have zoomorphic qualities. At the top right, a priest performs Homa, a ritual wherein an oblation or any religious offering is made into a fire. Offerings include those that are material and symbolic, such as grains, clarified butter, milk, incense, or seeds. Here, the priest seems to be offering milk to the fire. This folio possibly belongs to a Ramayana manuscript produced in Sirohi. Other folios from the same manuscript in the Harvard Art Museums’ collections are 1973.165, 1973.166.A, 1973.166.B, 1973.167, 1973.168.A, 1973.168.B, 1973.169, 1973.170.A, 1973.170.B, 1973.171. Rajput, Rajasthani, Sirohi School.
Dimensions
25.7 x 30.4 cm (10 1/8 x 11 15/16 in.)
Related Artworks
View MoreThe sixth of a series of 54 backing sheets mounted in an album; ink and color on paper
16th centuryJapaneseOpaque watercolor on paper
16th centuryIndianInk, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
17th centuryPersianThe thirty-fourth of a series of 54 backing sheets mounted in an album; ink and color on paperr
16th centuryJapaneseInk on vellum
17th centuryEthiopianInk, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
17th centuryPersianInk and gold on paper
14th centuryArabInk and gold on paper
17th centuryPersianInk and gold on paper
16th-17th centuryPersianInk, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
16th centuryNorth AfricanInk and gold on paper
16th and 19th centuryPersianInk, color, gold and silver on parchment dyed blue
9th centuryArab