Rama, Sita and Lakshman at the Sage Atri’s Ashram

From the Ayodhya Kanda, book 2 of the Ramayana
Punjab Hills, Himachal Pradesh, Kangra.

Rama, Sita and Lakshman visited the ashram of the great sage Atri and the rishi’s wife Anasayu. In continuous narration, the three appear twice. Taking their leave they first meet with a group of rishis at the right and at their departure the rishis perform oblations into a sacred fire in the centre, pouring water from shankhas, usually called conches in English but actually a different shell altogether. The main rishi, Atri, sits to the left along with his wife Anasuya in front of a rustic hut. The whole takes place in a lush landscape of rolling hills and a variety of trees, each carefully rendered with leaves in a range of colours. Contrary to our expectations the rishis all wear rather elaborate jewellery while Atri has an animal skin draped over his shoulder.

Frame size
25½ x 28¾ in – 64.8 x 73 cm