Ram Vanavas or Rama in Exile
Raja Ravi Varma1898
The Ganesh Shivaswamy Foundation
Bengaluru, India
RAM VANAVAS OR RAMA IN EXILE: Dashrata orders his son Rama to be exiled for fourteen years upon the insistence of Kaikeyi. Rama leaves Ayodhya and heads to the forest but the citizens of Ayodhya follow him. Rama decides to secretly head into the forest and asks Guha, the ruler of the Nishadas to secure a boat with an oarsman. Guha complies with Rama’s request. Rama and Lakshman thereafter matt their hair using the milk secretion of a banyan tree and head out into the forest with Sita. This marks the beginning of the fourteen year forest life of Rama, Lakshman and Sita.
This print from the Ravi Varma Press derived from a painting by Raja Ravi Varma depicts the commencement of the vanavas as a boat ride across the Ganga. Rama and Lakshmana are seen with their hair in matted locks. Sita, fearful of the life to come is leaning on Rama for consolation.
- Title: Ram Vanavas or Rama in Exile
- Creator: Raja Ravi Varma, Ravi Varma Fine Art Lithographic Press Bombay
- Date Created: 1898
- Physical Dimensions: 50 x 60 cms
- Provenance: The Hemamalini and Ganesh Shivaswamy collection, Bengaluru
- Subject Keywords: Raja Ravi Varma, Ramayan, Gigapixel
- Type: Chromolithograph
- Rights: The Ganesh Shivaswamy Foundation, Bengaluru
- Creator's Biography: Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906) was a prolific Indian artist who is recognized for his resorting to the academic realistic style of painting. His portraits of English and Indian royalty and aristocracy were well received. His paintings on Hindu religious and mythological subjects and paintings from classical and literary sources were highly sought after even during his lifetime. He painted several copies of his works and this demand led to the suggestion to have his paintings printed in the form of oleographs. The Ravi Varma Fine Art Lithographic Press was established in Bombay (now Mumbai) and commenced operations in 1894. Many of Ravi Varma's paintings were printed as chromolithographs at this Press. These chromolithographs would have a tremendous impact on religion, society and aesthetics. They went on to democratize art leading to immortalize Ravi Varma in the minds of the people of the Indian subcontinent.
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