LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Wounded eagle king Sadayu brings Sita's ring to Rama (Thai Ramayana mural)

About this photograph

Creator
Margery H. Freeman
Date created
Unknown
Location
Bangkok, Thailand
License
This photograph copyright ©2006. Terms of use

See this photograph in context

  • The Ramayana: The Hindu epic The Ramayana is retold through the mural, painting, and dance of Southeast Asia. (Page 2.12)

Related media

Learn more

In the classroom

  • See our collection of articles on visual literacy for ideas on using photographs meaningfully in the classroom.
Wounded eagle king Sadayu brings Sita's ring to Rama on Thai Ramayana mural at Emerald Buddha Temple

Sizes available: 1024×683 | 600×400

After battling Ravana, the wounded eagle king Sadayu flies into the forest and delivers Sita’s ring to Rama and Laksman, as shown on this mural at the Emerald Buddha Temple.

Rama and Laksman walk side by side in their customary gold crowns and royal clothes with Rama reaching out to receive the ring. Sadayu perches wounded on the ground with his open beak offering the ring to Rama at the left.

Sadayu is depicted with a gold leaf headdress and precise white outlining of his lush blue feathers. His wing and tail droop on the ground, conveying his dire situation.

The eagle king Sadayu was winning his battle with the demon Ravana until he boasts that he is afraid of nothing except the gods Vishnu, Siva, and the powerful ring worn by Princess Sita.

This statement gives Ravana the idea to take Sita’s ring and throw it at Sadayu as a weapon. The ring hits Sadayu’s wing and wounds him severely. Sadayu manages to fly into the forest and take the ring back to Rama and Laksman before he dies, telling them how Ravana has kidnapped Sita and will take her to the demon island of Lanka.

This image was photographed in August 1984.