Hanuman Carrying Dronagiri Mountain

This is a rich and magnificent Thanjavur reverse glass painting of Hanuman carrying the Dronagiri Mountain - a scene from the Ramayana when Lakshmana is badly wounded and is nearly killed. Hanuman is sent to fetch the herb Sanjeevani from the Mount Dronagiri on the slopes of the Himalayas. Upon reaching, Hanuman could not identify the herb, and so he lifted the whole mountain and brought it to the battlefield. In this painting, he can be seen striding through the battlefield carrying the mountain in his left hand and trampling an enemy underfoot in his determination to reach the fallen hero. He is dressed in rich clothes and jewellery, and pictured against a yellow background. Hanuman is known for his strength - a protector of towns and villages, wrestlers and acrobats - but he is also famous for being an exemplary devotee. He played a pivotal role in the Ramayana and is considered one of Rama’s greatest devotees.