Rama Defeated by His Sons

Place CreatedIndia, Asia

CultureIndia, Kangra

Dateca. 1810-1820

MediumOpaque watercolor on paper

Credit LineGift of Jayantilal K. and Geeta J. Patel and family to further the study of Hinduism

Dimensions15 3/4 × 12 1/4 in. (40 × 31.1 cm)

Object number2014.017.001

Label TextSons battle their father and uncles in this illustration of a scene from a later version of the Ramayana. Now ruling in Adyodhya, Rama begins the Ashvamedha, a horse sacrifice performed to define the boundaries of his kingdom. In this ritual, a horse, followed by the king’s army, wanders freely for one year, claiming new territories for the king. On this journey, the horse strays into the hermitage of the poet-sage Valmiki, where, unbeknownst to Rama, Sita and her twin sons Lava and Kusha have been living after Rama banished a pregnant Sita to the forest when the people of Ayodhya doubted her purity. Lava and Kusha capture the horse and battle against the army of Rama, the father they have never known. At top center, Valmiki teaches young Lava and Kusha. Moving counterclockwise, Sita embraces her sons, bidding them farewell as they head into battle. The sacrificial horse can be seen partially hidden in the bushes near other forest animals. Immediately to the right, Lava released the captives Hanuman and Jambavan. The primary scene fills the lower portion of the painting and depicts the gruesome culmination of their battle, with Rama and his brothers left unconscious but not dead.
Exhibition HistoryMCCM Permanent Collection Reinstallation, October 27, 2014 - November 7, 2016
Tell the Whole Story from Beginning to End: The Ramayana in Indian Painting, Michael C. Carlos Museum, February 20 - May 20, 2018
MCCM Permanent Collection Reinstallation, August 28, 2021 - Present

ProvenanceWith Doris Wiener (1922-2011) [Doris Wiener Gallery], New York, New York. Ex private collection, Canada. Purchased by MCCM from Christie's New York, March 19, 2014, lot 1105.

Status

On view

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