May 24, 2016

Queen Kaikeyi reminds King Dasharatha about the sacrifices of King Bali and King Shivi, folio 39 from the Ayodhya Kanda (Book of Ayodhya) of a Ramayana (Rama's Journey)

Queen Kaikeyi reminds King Dasharatha about the sacrifices of King Bali and King Shivi, folio 39 from the Ayodhya Kanda (Book of Ayodhya) of a Ramayana (Rama's Journey)

c. 1710

Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper

Overall: 20 x 38.2 cm (7 7/8 x 15 1/16 in.)

Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2018.142

Location

Did you know?

The scenes outside the room illustrate and expand further on what the queen, at left, is saying.

Description

A large portion of this composition is dominated by the episode of Vishnu’s manifestation as Trivikrama in Raja Bali’s sacrifice. Vishnu stands monumentally with his one foot on the ground and the other foot reaching to heaven where Brahma washes Vishnu’s foot with Ganges water in devotion. Raja Bali is shown giving the sacrifice to Vamana, the brahmin incarnation of Vishnu.

See also

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email [email protected].

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.