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

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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Hanuman courts Ravana's mermaid daughter in cave (Thai Ramayana mural)

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Hanuman courts Ravana’s mermaid daughter in a waterside cave, as seen on a mural at the Emerald Buddha Temple. Standing behind the mermaid, Hanuman embraces her as she perches gracefully with her tail balanced to the left.

Hanuman enjoys a tryst with Ravana’s mermaid daughter as he convinces her to order the sea creatures she rules to stop wrecking the bridge that Hanuman and Rama’s troops are building to Lanka.

As a result of this encounter, the mermaid later gives birth to a half-fish and half-monkey child. When he grows up, he appears again in the Ramayana story.

This image was photographed in August 1984.