The Ramayana 

Rama is an incarnation of the god Vishnu, born as the son of the King of Ayodhya. He is an obedient child, ideal husband and he becomes a great and benevolent ruler.

Sita, Rama’s wife, is the epitome of womanly virtue, devotion, purity and faithfulness.

Rama is accompanied in his quest by Lakshmana, his loyal younger half-brother.

Rama and Lakshmana are helped by Hanuman, the clever and cunning King of the Monkeys.

Ravi Vijaya Works, F A L Works,  Mumbai, c.1900

Ravana 

Ravana is a demon king. He is shown with multiple heads - usually ten - which represent his deceptiveness and duplicity, as well as negative qualities such as lust, anger, greed, and pride. He is also a scholar and follower of Shiva, the god of destruction and re-creation.

Printed by the Ravi Udaya Vijaya Photo-Litho Offset Works, Maharashtra, early 20th century.

Rama and Sita

The Ramayana opens with the story of how Rama wins Sita’s hand in marriage by completing a challenge from her father, the King of Janaka.

The king has a great bow of divine origin and promises Sita to the prince who can bend the bow and string it. Many had tried but none pass this test until Rama, whose strength breaks the bow in two.

Rama is often represented holding a bow and arrow.

South India, mid-20th century

Sita Ravan Palayan

Rama is to inherit the kingdom from his father but, after a power struggle with his stepmother, he is banished for fourteen years. Sita and Lakshmana faithfully follow him to live in the forest.

While in the forest Ravana tricks Rama and Lakshmana into chasing a golden deer, leaving Sita alone. Ravana abducts Sita and takes her to Lanka, a city across the ocean. As she is carried away Sita scatters her jewels as a trail for Rama.

Ravi Udaya Press, early 20th century

Rama and his brother Lakshmana begin a long and fruitless search for Sita. Eventually, they come to the city of the Monkeys, where Hanuman promises to help them.

Hanuman leaps across the ocean to Lanka. Entering the palace grounds, he hears crying and finds Sita weeping beneath a tree. He gives her Rama’s ring to show he can be trusted.

Ravi Varma Press, Maharashtra, c.1900

Hanuman shakes the fruit from the palace trees and rips off branches, waking sleeping demons who capture him and take him to Ravana. 

The demon king orders that Hanuman’s tail should be set on fire. Hanuman cleverly escapes, and in the process sets many buildings on Lanka alight with his burning tail.

Ravi Varma Press, Maharashtra, early 20th century

Hanuman leads an army of monkeys and bears to battle the demon army. Lakshmana is severely wounded and Hanuman flies to Dronagiri mountain in the Himalayas to bring back a magic healing herb. Unsure of which plants to pick he breaks off the entire peak and carries it to Rama.

Ravi Varma Press, Maharashtra, early 20th century

Ravana and Rama fight an epic hand-to-hand battle involving spells and weapons. Every time Rama cuts off one of Ravana’s heads, it grows back. It seems Rama cannot not win but, eventually, he finds Ravana’s weakness – some say by chopping his big toe, or belly button or his heart – and kills him.

Kansaripara Art Studio, Calcutta, early 20th century

Rama’s exile comes to an end. Accompanied by Lakshmana and Hanuman, Rama and Sita return to Ayodhya to much rejoicing. They are crowned king and queen and their rule heralds a golden era.

Their return is celebrated today during the festival of Diwali.

Painting, artist unknown, Jaipur School (possibly), 20th century