AM E074171 Ramayana

Ramayana: Rama and the forest hermits

Right at the beginning of the Ramayana, Rama is asked to go to protect hermits in the forest who are being attacked by raksasa. Accompanied by Laksamana, he clears out the raksasa, and then goes on to win Sita in an archery competition. Two episodes are shown here. At the top Rama and Laksamana, with Twalen and Morda, are jumped by a female raksasa, Tatakabia, who Rama shoots. Below, Rama and Laksamana turn over another attacking raksasa, thus creating Kala Sungsang an inverted demon who has an important part in Balinese cosmololgy and is the name of a constellation (see E74228 and E74233) . The Kala Sungsang episode is not found in at least some versions of the ramayana, and is likely to be a Balinese embroidery to explain and legitimate one of their own conceptions. In the background of both scenes, hermits and their servants watch the discomfiture of their enemies. Although the top scene has the normal wind and cloud otif throughout, the bottom scene has an alternative background, possibly influenced by the new developments in Ubud at the time. Not only has Pan Seken used rather wispy casuarina like trees, but he has also filled the sky with a pen drawn spiral motif, which may be intended to echo the inversion theme of the secene. [ref Anthony Forge, Balinese Traditional Paintings]