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Hanuman protects Rama's army in his mouth (Thai Ramayana mural)
About this photograph
- Creator
- Margery H. Freeman
- Date created
- Unknown
- Location
- Bangkok, Thailand
- License
- This photograph copyright ©2006. Terms of use
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In a Ramayana mural at the Emerald Buddha Temple, Hanuman saves Rama’s army from the attack of a demon by becoming huge and hiding them in his mouth.
The demon on the left is shown with two faces and eight arms wielding a sword. Lying at the demon’s feet, Hanuman has made himself as big as the demon. Hanuman then has opened his mouth so wide that the allies of Rama can run inside for protection. This event takes place during the many battles that Rama and Hanuman’s armies fight on the island of the demon King Ravana, where Rama’s kidnapped wife Sita has been hidden.
In Hanuman’s open mouth is a warrior painted in green, a typical convention for representing Rama in Thai temple paintings.
This image was photographed in August 1984.
