Rama Pattabhisheka

This exquisitely detailed Mysore School painting depicts ‘Rama Pattabhisheka’. Abhisheka in Sanskrit means "bathing of the divinity to whom worship is offered". It is a religious rite or method of prayer in which a devotee pours a liquid offering on the God or Goddess. The scene portrayed in this painting is part of the coronation of Rama after he defeated Ravana and returned to be crowned the king of Ayodhya. Rama’s brothers Bharata and Lakshman are standing in attendance with folded hands, while Shatrughan, the youngest brother, is holding an umbrella, and Hanuman, the monkey-god, is touching his feet. At the bottom centre, Sugriva, the king of Vanaras (who are featured on the left), is making an offering of jewellery to Rama. The bear like figure with the Vanaras is Jambavantha, a great warrior and strategist. To the right of Sugriva, are Ravana’s brother and his followers who switched to Rama's side during the war. On the top left are priests and saints who have come to bless Rama.
Rama is the hero of the Ramayana, a Hindu epic which narrates the story of the exile of Rama to the forest with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshman, the subsequent abduction of Sita by Ravana (the demon-king of Lanka) and the rescue of Sita with the help of Sugriva (the king of the the monkey tribe) and his minister Hanuman. After a fierce battle, the city of Lanka was taken by Lord Rama, Ravana was defeated and killed, and Sita was rescued. Rama returned and was crowned to begin his glorious reign of Ayodhya.
At some point a fold mark across the centre part of this old Mysore Painting has been restored.