Late 18th - early 19th century

The Demoness Surpanakha Provokes Her Brother Ravana to Abduct Sita

This preparatory sketch depicts the crucial moment when the ten-headed king Ravana becomes the enemy of the hero Rama. Ravana's sister, Surpanakha, desired to marry Rama, but Rama refused and even had her nose cut off. In revenge, she convinced Ravana to kidnap Rama's wife, Sita. Ravana had spent ten thousand years in religious meditation, gaining such great knowledge and capabilities that he took control of the demon kingdom and became a mighty warrior. As an incarnation of the god Vishnu, only Rama could rescue Sita and defeat Ravana. Unlike others in this exhibition who renounced kingship to become holy men, Ravana's penances as a holy man enabled him to become a king.