This folio tells the story from the Adi Parva, the first book of the Mahabharata, of the eagle Garuda, who became the vahana (animal mount) for the god Vishnu. Garuda's mother Vinata and her co-wife Kadru had engaged in a wager that Vinata lost,…
This folio tells the story from the Adi Parva, the first book of the Mahabharata, of the eagle Garuda, who became the vahana (animal mount) for the god Vishnu. Garuda's mother Vinata and her co-wife Kadru had engaged in a wager that Vinata lost,…
Here, Rama is shown slaughtering Khara’s demon army and then resting after battle with Lakshmana and Sita, who massages his feet. Depictions of Rama on both sides of this manuscript page emphasize his nobility, grace, and might, illus-trating the…
Ravana’s sister Shurpanakha fell deeply in love with Rama when she encountered him in the forest. Rama, faithful to his wife, Sita, rejected the demoness’s advances and incited Lakshmana to punish her by cutting off her ears and nose. This manuscript…
Sons battle their father and uncles in this illustration of a scene from a later version of the Ramayana. Now ruling in Ayodhya, Rama begins the Ashvamedha, a horse sacrifice to define his territory. In this ritual, a horse, followed by the king’s…
In the Cross River Region of Nigeria, the rivalry between masking associations gave artists incentives to generate new art forms and styles. Each association lavished great expense on masquerade paraphernalia in a bid to display the most impressive…