Hanuman Leaps to Lanka

16759055-2015_016_001_Dpa_ARC.tif

Title

Hanuman Leaps to Lanka

Date

ca. 1680s

Context

India, Malwa

Medium/Dimensions

Ink and watercolor on paper
Framed: 11 1/4 x 14 1/2 in. (28.6 x 36.8 cm)
Image (visible): 7 3/4 x 11 in. (19.7 x 27.9 cm)

Object Number

2015.016.001

Description

Numbered "48" on verso.
Rama and his companions have now joined forces with the forest monkeys to retrieve Sita. Sugriva, king of the monkeys, sends Hanuman (center), his nephew Angada (right), and the king of the bears, Jambavan (left), south in search of Sita. After they realize Sita is being held captive on the island of Lanka, Jambavan convinces Hanuman to use his superhuman powers to leap across the ocean to find her. Here, Hanuman wears both the prayer beads and white markings of an ascetic and the garb of a wealthy royal, marking his status as Rama’s devotee and equal. He wields his signature weapon, a mace, as he leaps from Mount Mahendra across the ocean toward Ravana’s fort, ornately painted with vases on display in niches. Ravana may be morally bankrupt, but his demon kingdom flourishes. The depiction of Jambavan as a bear—here depicted with a very humanlike beard—highlights an interesting evolution in this character. In Valmiki’s Ramayana, Jambavan is king of the apes, but later tellings understand him to be king of the bears, diversifying Rama’s allies.

Credit Line

Gift of Jayantilal K. and Geeta J. Patel & Family to further the study of Hinduism

Rights

© Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University. Photo by Bruce M. White, 2015.
This image is provided by the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University, who retains all rights in it. This image is made available for limited non-commercial, educational, and personal use only, or for fair use as defined by United States law. For all other uses, please contact the Michael C. Carlos Museum Office of Collections Services at +1(404) 727-4282 or mccm.collections.services@emory.edu. Users must cite the author and source of the image as they would material from any printed work, but not in any way that implies endorsement of the user or the user's use of the image. Users may not remove any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices, including without limitation attribution information, credits, and copyright notices that have been placed on or near the image by the Museum. The Museum assumes no responsibility for royalties or fees claimed by the artist or third parties. The User agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Emory University, its Michael C. Carlos Museum, its agents, employees, faculty members, students and trustees from and against any and all claims, losses, actions, damages, expenses, and all other liabilities, including but not limited to attorney’s fees, directly or indirectly arising out of or resulting from its use of photographic images for which permission is granted hereunder.

On View

No

Citation

“Hanuman Leaps to Lanka,” Michael C. Carlos Museum Collections Online, accessed March 28, 2024, https://digitalprojects.carlos.emory.edu/items/show/6826.

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