Rama and Sita bathing in waterfall (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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A mural detail at the Emerald Buddha Temple shows Rama and Sita bathing in a waterfall.
A waterfall flows down the side of a mountain into a lush garden landscape. The cascade of water falls first on the head of Rama, sitting on a higher ledge, and then upon the head of Sita, who crouches on a lower ledge. Both Rama and Sita wear red sarongs that cover their bodies from the waist down.
This image represents Rama and Sita finally reunited in marital bliss after many trials including their exile, Sita’s abduction, battles with demons, and finally Rama’s own violent jealousy.
The portrayal of the royal couple bathing is both modestly intimate and in keeping with mainland Southeast Asian ideas of hygiene and Buddhist gender hierarchy. Traditionally, Southeast Asian villages are located beside streams and springs, which are used for frequent bathing.
Southeast Asian Buddhists generally claim that elders and males should be positioned physically higher than young people amd females. Even a family’s laundry will be hung in the proper relative position with male garments hung higher than female ones, and upper body clothes hung higher than lower body clothes.
