Cleveland Museum of Art
Shurpanakha demands vengeance, from the "Shangri" Ramayana
- Date
- c. 1700
- Medium
- Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
- Culture
- Northern India, Pahari kingdoms
- Department
- Indian and Southeast Asian Art
- Institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
In a dramatic climax, the artists introduce the demon king, Ravana (the Howler), archvillain of the Ramayana . He has 10 crowned heads and 20 arms. He grasps a different deadly weapon in each hand; they reveal his supreme powers. The demon Shurpanakha’s nose and ears are healing, but her desire for revenge is stronger than ever. She gestures emphatically at her brother Ravana, urging him to find a way to destroy Rama, perhaps by kidnapping Rama’s wife. More gold has been lavished on this painting than any other known from the “Shangri” Ramayana , suggesting that it is meant to stand out as a scene of primary importance. The Ramayana of Valmiki describes Shurpanakha as hideous, misshapen, and potbellied with hair the color of copper.
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