3-056-686 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Attack on Lanka, c1649. The allies launch a general attack on Lanka, in which many marvellous feats of skill and daring are performed. Rama divides his forces, sending the monkey chiefs with their separate armies to invest each of the city's four gates. Nila attacks Prahasta at the eastern gate, Angada attacks Mahaparsva and Mahodara at the southern gate, Hanuman attacks Indrajit at the western gate, while Rama, Laksmana and Sugriva attack the northern gate, where Ravana is stationed. Ravana ascends to the roof of his palace before ordering a sortie. (Ravana's golden palace. Ravanna is the ten headed demon king at the very centre of the picture. Two servants wait by his side in attendance. All around him are scenes of fighting between his supporters and enemies. Enemies storm the walls of his palace. In the bottom right corner elephants are used to push them back, and hold monkeys in their trunks.) From Book 6, Yuddhakanda, Mewar Ramayana.