Rama Confronts the Demon Maricha Who Is Disguised as a Golden Deer

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Rama Confronts the Demon Maricha Who Is Disguised as a Golden Deer

c. Early 19th century

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

This fragment of a Bengali pata (painted scroll) depicts an event from the epic Ramayana. The scenes take place in the forest where the hero-god Rama (with dark-blue skin) has been exiled with his beautiful wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana. Lakshmana rejects the advances of Surpanakha, sister of the demon-king Ravana. According to the tale, Surpanakha complains to her brother of her harsh treatment, and Ravana sends his henchman Maricha, disguised as a golden deer, to lure Rama and Lakshmana away from Sita. Here, Rama confronts the deer, which transforms back into the manlike demon Maricha.

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Object Details

Title:

Rama Confronts the Demon Maricha Who Is Disguised as a Golden Deer
From a pata (narrative scroll) illustrating scenes from the Ramayana

Date:

c. Early 19th century

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

Medium:

Opaque watercolor on cloth-backed paper

Dimensions:

Image: 15 9/16 × 19 inches (39.5 × 48.3 cm) Sheet: 16 11/16 × 20 inches (42.4 × 50.8 cm) Mount: 17 3/4 × 21 5/8 inches (45.1 × 54.9 cm)

Classification:

Paintings

Credit Line:

Stella Kramrisch Collection, 1994

Accession Number:

1994-148-547

Geography:

Made in Hugli, West Bengal, Bengal Region, India, Asia

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