1973.164: Demons Approaching Rama and Lakshmana at a Fire Ceremony (Homa) (painting, recto), illustration from a Ramayana series

Identification and Creation

Object Number

1973.164

Title

Demons Approaching Rama and Lakshmana at a Fire Ceremony (Homa) (painting, recto), illustration from a Ramayana series

Classification

Manuscripts

Work Type

manuscript folio

Date

18th-19th century

Places

Creation Place: South Asia, India, Rajasthan, Sirohi

Culture

Indian

Persistent Link

https://hvrd.art/o/216309

Physical Descriptions

Medium

Opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper

Dimensions

25.7 x 30.4 cm (10 1/8 x 11 15/16 in.)

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line

Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of John Kenneth Galbraith

Accession Year

1973

Object Number

1973.164

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Contact

am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu

Permissions

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Descriptions

Description

The painting depicts Rama, the blue-skinned, seventh avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, and his brother, Lakshmana, firing arrows at a group of demons. The horned demons wield weapons. Some have zoomorphic qualities. At the top right, a priest performs Homa, a ritual wherein an oblation or any religious offering is made into a fire. Offerings include those that are material and symbolic, such as grains, clarified butter, milk, incense, or seeds. Here, the priest seems to be offering milk to the fire.

This folio possibly belongs to a Ramayana manuscript produced in Sirohi. Other folios from the same manuscript in the Harvard Art Museums’ collections are 1973.165, 1973.166.A, 1973.166.B, 1973.167, 1973.168.A, 1973.168.B, 1973.169, 1973.170.A, 1973.170.B, 1973.171. Rajput, Rajasthani, Sirohi School.

Verification Level