The Demon Kumbhakarna Is Defeated by Rama and Lakshmana: Folio from a Dispersed Ramayana Series
Not on view
Kumbhakarna, the terrifying giant and brother of Ravana, was causing tremendous damage to the monkey and bear army when Rama and Lakshmana entered the battle. Using powerful magical arrows, Rama severed Kumbhakarna’s limbs and filled his mouth with pointed steel shafts. The demon’s defeat is emphasized by his dismembered body parts being carried away by the bear and monkey warriors. In contrast to the nearby Mughal depiction of Kumbhakarna, which shows the giant sleeping, this Malwa portrayal focuses on his violent and bloody demise. The brilliant red and black color fields and the spatial ambiguity are drawn from earlier Hindu painting traditions in Malwa, where the Mughal style had little impact.
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