KANGRA, NORTH INDIA, FIRST HALF 19TH CENTURY

It is possible that the scene illustrated here is the arrival of Rama and Lakshmana at the palace in Janakpur to participate in the swayamvara organised by King Janaka for the marriage of his daughter Sita. The condition was that whosoever would manage to string and break the legendary bow of Shiva would win Sita’s hand in marriage. The sage Vishwamitra asks Rama to participate and takes the brothers to Janakpur. They are depicted seated in the foreground along with other ascetics. King Janaka is in discussion in a chamber in his palace and Sita is with her attendants in another chamber. The gods and kinnaras (horse-headed celestial musicians) illustrated in the skies above, in the different realms of Vishnu and Shiva, are depicted jubilant and celebrating.