Dimensions: 14.0 inches X 11.0 inches
Hindu Paintings & Artwork | Paintings of Hindu Gods & Goddesses
Water Color on Paper - Artist: Kailash Raj
This magnificent painting, a masterpiece of art rendered in Kangra art style prevalent around early nineteenth century, the best known school of Pahari art, portrays Sita, consort of Lord Rama, entering the Earth. The artist has dramatized the event by conceiving the mother Earth as appearing on Sitas prayer riding a golden chowki seat, and as taking her back into her womb. The painting is based on the depiction of the legend as it has been described in the Uttar-kanda in the Ramayana by sage Valmiki. Tulsidasa has excluded it in his Rama Charit-Manasa. The episode appears variously in other versions of Rama-katha, though the painting is based primarily on the Valmikis Ramayana. As the Ramayana puts it, Sita, after she was exiled by Rama, was living at the ashram hermitage of sage Valmiki. It was here that her sons Lava and Kusha were born. By the time they grew to boyhood sage Valmiki had composed his epic Ramayana narrating primarily the sad plight of Sita. After sage Valmiki knew that Rama was performing Ashva medha-yajna he decided to take Lava, Kusha and Sita to the court of Rama at Ayodhya and put her case before him. Lava and Kusha had learnt the Ramayana by heart and could recite it any time in their sweet voice. In the full Rama-durbar they recited it and through it convinced all present that Sita was sinless and pure. Valmiki also testified Sitas purity and wished that Rama accepted her. Rama agreed to accept Sita though on the condition that in full court before all she once again proved her purity. Earlier she had done so through fire ordeal. However, instead of proving her purity by taking an oath or otherwise, Sita prayed the mother Earth, of whom she was born, to take her back into her womb as she was tired of proving her purity over and agai
