Sita amidst Demonesses in the Ashoka Garden

From the Shangri Ramayana.

Sita, the wife of Rama, had been abducted by Ravana, king of the demons, and imprisoned in Ravana's walled garden Ashoka Vatika, where she was guarded by female demons and ogres of varied description. The demonesses who keep their guard over Sita are described at great length in the text as having frightening appearances - with inflamed eyes, their mouths set awry, as crooked and dwarfed, one having only one eye, while another with only one ear. Some have the ears of an elephant, while the others have faces of a cow or an elephant or a pig.

Many passages in the Ramayana speak of the trials of the abducted Sita, who spends her days pining in the Ashoka Garden, while Ravana alternately intimidates and cajoles her to give up all thoughts of Rama. Sita however steadfast in her faith and loyalty refuses to marry him.

The ogresses too terrible to behold, take delight in frightening Sita. In their attempt to persuade Sita to marry the Lord of the demons, Ravana, they extol his wealth, power and strength. The demonesses argue with Sita, scorn her for wasting her life away, for if she would agree to marry Ravana, she would be the mistress of the universe. When their persuasion fails, they frighten and threaten to eat her.

The painter treats the scene with uncomplicated vivaciousness. The composition is carefully controlled, the groupings of figures easy and spaced out.

He depicts the ogresses on either side of Sita who, unlike described in the text as dejected with “a face full of tears in a pitiable condition, emaciated and immersed in gloom” (Valmiki Ramayana, 5.15.23) sits on a carpet with marked confidence, her pose iconically rendered. Despite their skewed eyes, fangs, disarrayed features and monstrous countenance, the demonesses have a slightly innocuous presence, and fail to convince the viewer of their ferocity.

Ravana’s fabulous retreat Ashoka Vatika is described as “a celestial garden... with flowers like clusters of stars.” (Valmiki Ramayana, 5.15.14) and is rendered here as a backdrop of exuberant foliage of varied types.

Sharply pointed cypresses mingle with flower-laden trees and banana plantains. The artist delights in rendering undulating and curved trunks, branches of delicate leaves that rise up flame-like or come down like a light cascade of water. Little tufts of grass are sprinkled over the bare ground, while an azure blue streak of the sky is spotted with cotton like clouds softly billowing in the wind.