Story from the Ramayana: The demoness Shurpanakha assumes her real form.


From the Ramayana series as No.II9, Pahari, 1^st century; from the family workshop of Seu-Nainsukh,
Chandigarh Museum, Chandigarh, No. E -98

This story is from the epic Ramayana. In the long years of exile in which he was accompanied by his wife Sita and his younger brother Lakshmana, Rama, the hero of the Ramayana, walked a hazardous course. This painting depicts an extraordinary event, the first in the chain that culminated in the abduction of Sita and the final battle between Rama and the mighty Ravana, demon king of Lanka.

Shurpanakha, Ravan’s sister, chances upon Rama and Lakshmana in their forest hut and falls head over heels in love with them. But despite her assumed form of a beautiful damsel, they make light of her advances and rail at her, for neither Rama nor Lakshmana could be tempted; nonetheless, Shurpanakha persists and will not take no for an answer. Lakshmana greatly incensed, decides to teach her a lesson. With his sword he cuts off her nose and ears, and in that instant, Shurpanakha assumes her true, hideous form. Wailing aloud and greatly enraged, she flies off towards Lanka, her brother’s kingdom, to urge him to punish the two forest dwelling brothers.

The visual moments represented in the SVN are as follows:
M1.
M2.