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Hanuman goes underground to kill demon (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 circular sequence on a mural detail at the Emerald Buddha Temple, the monkey god Hanuman goes underground to kill a demon he finds at Ravana’s island of Lanka.
The sequence of four images proceeds from the top right and moves clockwise to reach the top left. First, Hanuman’s legs are seen as he dives underground. Then a small demon floats below him. In the third image, Hanuman raises his sword to stab the demon. In the final image, Hanuman holds up the demon’s severed head in his right hand and raises his left hand in triumph.
The visual conventions of the circular portrayal must be known by the audience because the images are not divided by frames, and the usual left to right progression does not indicate the chronolgy of the story. As the Ramayana is a well-known tale, most viewers come with prior expectations about how the story proceeds.
This scene takes place when Rama’s army finally reaches the demon Ravana’s island and locates a beautiful spot in the middle of a desert. Sensing a trick, Hanuman goes underground where he finds and kills a demon waiting to attack them. When the demons are gone, Rama and Hanuman’s army have a safe place to camp.
This image was photographed in August 1984.
