Lord Rama kills Ravana

The folio depicts the final battle between Rama and Ravana, the demon king who had abducted Sita, Rama’s wife. Ravana entered the battlefield and rushed towards Rama in his chariot making a tremendous sound that “filled the entire earth’ and made the “rivers, mountains and forests tremble’. Such was the velocity of the arrows that Rama and Ravana showered on each other that all creatures beholding this spectacular sight were frightened. The sky became dense with arrows just as the “dense clouds during the monsoon make the sky dark”.

Rama then took out a blazing arrow fashioned by the God Brahma. Given to him by the sage Agastya, it had the “wind” in its feathers, in its apex were the “fire and the sun”. It was as “heavy as the mountains Meru and Mandara” and “its shaft was made up of ether” (Valmiki Ramayana 6- 107- 6). As Rama mounted the arrow on his bow and pulled its string taut, “all the beings were frightened and the earth trembled.” (Valmiki Ramayana, 6-107-15) This inviolable arrow pierced the chest of Ravana, and the mighty demon fell upon the earth, dead.

The artist depicts the epic battle brimming with agitated figures that fill the picture space. The strong and brilliant colouring against the pale blue background and the animated gestures of the figures charges the visual frame with ferocious energy.

A vertical division cleaves the two armies. A variety of ferocious-looking demons make up Ravana’s army on the right, some bird-like or boar faced, while others with humanoid features baring their fangs or snarling teeth or leering menacingly. Rama, on the left, riding on his chariot depicted in a stance of single minded focus and unwavering concentration pulls at his bow about to shoot the arrow that would pierce Ravana’s heart. Below him echoing his stance is his brother Lakshmana raising his bow to shoot his arrow with calm attention. The self-assurance of the winning side is reiterated in the composed countenances of the monkeys that form the army of Rama.

After being struck by Rama’s arrow, Ravana is shown dying; his many heads now severed, the grip of his hands loosened and the formidable weapons he was arrayed with fall to the ground. The gods witness to this spectacular feat rain down blossoms upon the victorious Rama.