Posted on: 23 September 2013

Viṣhṇu as Rāma killing Ravaṇa with Lakṣmaṇa; single-page painting mounted on a detached album folio. Many-headed, many-armed king Ravana stands on the right, backing away from Rama and his brother, Laksmana, each wearing crowns and wielding bows. An ass's head protrudes from above Ravana's many crowns. Flat green ground with flowering plants; blue sky and pink landscape along top and bottom of image, respectively.

Mughal Style
17thC(late)
Deccan

© Trustees of the British Museum


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Whats the story of the ass' head?

Mallika Trivedi Gautam: Interesting explanation... "...Ravana was a strange foe. He was well-read knowing all the Vedas and Sastras, unbeaten in argument and having great knowledge of various arts and sciences. Indian artists therefore show him as a person having the wisdom of ten wise men-with ten heads. In spite of being so learned and wise, he committed the contemptible act of taking away forcibly another man's wife. Therefore the artists add a donkey's head to the personality of Ravana demonstrating his folly." http://bit.ly/16WhEJc

Very interesting. Did you get around to reading Asura by Anand Neelakantan ? He has another interesting take on why R abducted Sita.

Mallika: Just posted your suggestion...