Hanuman Carrying Rama and Lakshmana

Hanuman has been painted as carrying Rama and Lakshmana on his shoulders, besides the usual Mount Dron and a symbolic mace in his right and left hands. In the legend of Rama, Hanuman is twice alluded to as carrying Rama and Lakshmana on his shoulders - first, as Sugriva's emissary, when he met them for the first time near Rishyamuka mountain in Kishkindha where Sugriva was seeking refuge, and the second time, to rescue them from Paatala - the subterranean region where Ravana's brother Ahiravana had kept them after their abduction.

In the first instance, Hanuman carried them on his shoulders, when on his persuasion Rama agreed to meet Sugriva. He carried them to the mountain top where Sugriva was hiding. In the second instance, he brought them back, again on his shoulders, from Paatala, domain of Ahiravana who had abducted them to help his brother Ravana in his war against them. Both times he expanded his form.

In the painting Hanuman has under his feet oceanic water with lotuses scattered all over. It suggests his emergence from the ocean. The Ahiravana episode is obviously the painting's theme. The artist has specially focused on Hanuman's mighty form.

In exile Rama and Lakshmana wore ascetics' cloths and no ornaments. The artist did not accept this position. He saw in them only Ayodhya's princes, and hence, their princely costumes and ornaments. Hanuman is himself fully bejeweled from head to toe. His crown has even a crest such as had monarchs.