Monkey soldiers gather around wounded Laksman in forest (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 5.2)
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Learn more
- Search LEARN NC for art, Bangkok, Emerald Buddha Temple, Laksman, monkeys, murals, paintings, Rama, Ramayana, Thailand, and weapons.
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Monkey allies gather around Rama and the wounded Laksman, as seen in a mural at the Emerald Buddha Temple.
In this scene, the mortally wounded Laksman lies on his side near boulders in the forest. Rama sits close beside him while the monkey kings and courtiers gather in front of them in a semi-circle. The poison spear now rests on the ground as it has been pulled from Laksman’s chest.
In the Ramayana story, Ravana’s exiled younger brother Bhibek, who has come over to Rama’s side, knows the antidote to the poison on Ravana’s spear. Bhibek is Ravana’s astrologer brother who was expelled by Ravana after he interpreted Ravana’s dream to mean he should return Sita to Rama. Bhibek reveals that Laksman can only be saved by a potion made from special herbs and water drawn from five rivers and applied before the next sunrise.
This images was photographed in August 1984.
