Ram Panchayatan

RAMPANCHAYATAN: This is a shastraic or textual representation of the coronation of Rama. In the print entitled ‘Ram Pattabhishek’ there are several other characters present like Vibhishna and Vashishta. However, in this print from the Ravi Varma Press derived from a painting by Raja Ravi Varma, the visual representation is restricted to five elements. Rama and Sita are considered as one unit while Lakshmana, Bharatha, Shatrugna and Hanuman are one unit each.

The number five is considered auspicious and all encompassing. Similar groups of five are found in the pancha-suktam (the five hyms) and pancha-devata (the five deities).