Lakshmana cuts the nose of Surpanakha

One day Surpanakha came to Panchvati. She introduced herself to Rama as Surpanakha, the sister of Ravana, the ruler of Lanka and living in this forest with her two brothers Khara and Dushana. They are the lords of this forest. She was infatuated by Rama's personality and grace and tried to seduce him. Rama smiled and said 'I am already married but my younger brother is alone and without his wife. He is young and handsome. Take him as your husband'. Surpanakha turned to Lakshmana and proposed him. He also refused her offer and teased her and answered that 'I am only a servant of Rama, he is my lord and I am sure you do not want to be the wife of a servant. He alone is worthy of you'. Surpanakha became furious, turned again to Rama and he again refused. Then she saw Sita and thought that Sita is the only hurdle between her and these two brothers. Immediately she resumed her demoness form and attacked Sita. Rama flung her back and told Lakshmana to teach her a lesson and send her away. Lakshmana quickly drew his sword, since he would not kill a woman, cut off her ears and her nose. The artist of Malwa has painted this episode of Ramayana in a very judicious manner. He painted the huge figure of Surpanakha in the centre of his composition because here she is the main character of this episode. Her bleeding nose, pain on her face, her huge cry and trying to save herself from the arrows of Lakshmana but failed, all these features are painted very effectively on the deep yellow background. On the right side of the painting Lakshmana is shown aiming his arrows at her and on the left Rama is shown seated with Sita in his hutment holding bow and arrow. The Malwa artist has painted two small rooms projecting Sultanate architecture of Mandu and Chanderi in Central India instead of a hutment made of bamboo with a thatch roof. The pearl jewellery and black pompoms are some of the typical features of Malwa style are also seen in this painting.