The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of September 25, 2023

Ravana’s sister Shurpanakha complains that Lakshmana cut off her nose and ears, from Chapter 30 of the Aranya Kanda (Book of the Forest) of a “Shangri” Ramayana (Rama’s Journey)

c. 1690–1710

This object has related works. See The royal priest Shatananda confirms that the four princesses of Mithila should marry the sons of King Dasharatha, from Chapter 70 of the Bala Kanda (Book of Childhood), folio 13 from a “Shangri” Ramayana (Rama’s Journey); King Dasharatha sends his chief minister Sumantra to summon Rama, from Chapter 16 of the Ayodhya Kanda (Book of Ayodhya), folio 18 of a “Shangri” Ramayana (Rama’s Journey)

Northern India, Pahari Region, Himachal Pradesh, possibly Rajput Kingdom of Mandi, court of Sidh Sen

(reigned 1684–1727)

Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper

Overall: 21.6 x 31.8 cm (8 1/2 x 12 1/2 in.); Painting: 18.4 x 28.9 cm (7 1/4 x 11 3/8 in.)

Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2018.107

Location

242B Indian Painting

Fun Fact

The <em>Ramayana</em> of Valmiki describes Shurpanakha as hideous, misshapen, and potbellied with hair the color of copper.

Description

The golden island city of Lanka, inhabited by demons, is ruled by their ten-headed king Ravana, shown at right wielding a different weapon in each of his 20 hands. At the center of the composition, Ravana’s red-haired sister laments that Rama and his brother Lakshmana spurned her advances and humiliated her. To avenge his sister’s mutilation, and intrigued by reports of Sita’s beauty, Ravana decides to abduct Sita and claim her for himself.

Gold leaf makes the ramparts and turrets of Lanka glimmer splendidly, a sharp contrast to the dreadful residents.

Inscriptions

Inscription

[[verso, lower right corner, in Sanskrit, upside down]] aranya 61

Inscription Translation

[Book of] the Forest, [Chapter] 61 (or 31)

Inscription Remark

This episode occurs in Aranya Kanda Sarga 31.

Inscription

[[recto, in the borders, indistinct Takri script]] Shurpanakhā (?)--- lankā āyī ---- rāvaṇe prati jhūth bachan boldī hoyi je tan raje bich matra (?) hoyī hai. Sri rām chandre khar dūsana sāra māre mera dheya(?) hoyā. Sri rām chandre de sath isdī ek istri ----

Inscription Translation

Shurpanakha(?) arrived at Lanka, and began lying to Ravana. [She said that] Rama had murdered [the demons] Khara and Dhushana, and (unintelligible). [She mentioned that] Rama had a woman with him who (unintelligible).

Inscription

[[verso, top, in Takri script]] 71

Inscription

[[verso, left side, in Takri script]] 71

Provenance
1956–July 1969
(Walter Randal, New York, NY, sold to Ralph Benkaim)
December 1969–2018
Catherine Glynn Benkaim and Ralph Benkaim Collection
2018–
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Citations
Cummins, Joan. Vishnu: Hinduism’s Blue-Skinned Savior. Grantha, 2011. Reproduced: cat. no. 80.
McGill, Forest, ed. The Rama Epic: Hero, Heroine, Ally, Foe. San Francisco: Asian Art Museum, 2016. Reproduced: cat. no. 118, pp. 203, 228.
Exhibition history

Indian Gallery 242 Rotation. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (September 10, 2018-April 7, 2019).

The Rama Epic: Hero, Heroine, Ally, Foe. Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA (organizer) (October 21, 2016-January 15, 2017).

Frist Art Museum, Nashville, TN (February 20-May 29, 2011); Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY (June 24-October 2, 2011).

Indian Gallery 242 Rotation. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (September 10, 2018-April 7, 2019).

Imagining Rama's Journey (Indian Painting rotation). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (March 10-September 17, 2023).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2018.107