Lakshmana Fights Indrajit

opaque watercolor and gold on paper

An avatar of the god Vishnu, Rama’s story is told in the “Ramayana,” a beloved tale of kingship, morality, and devotion. It recounts the courageous feats of Rama, his wife, Sita, brother Lakshmana, and devoted follower Hanuman, who fight the evil powers of Ravana, the king of Lanka.

In this scene, Indrajit, a warrior in Ravana’s army, is shown shooting an arrow at Lakshmana, who fires back. Rama is seen at far left, carried on the shoulders of his monkey ally Hanuman. At the very center of the painting, Hanuman is depicted again, tossing an enormous white boulder at the demons.