Jain Miniature Paintings from Western India c6.56

c6.56

In the southern porch of Kailāsanāth we see several scenes from the Rāmāyaṇa, the abduction of Sītā by Rāvaṇa, the fight of Rāma and Rāvaṇa, the opportune help by the monkey god Hanumān and the final release of Sītā through the help of the latter. These wall-paintings were apparently executed at a later period when the temple was in charge of the people with Vaishṇavite leanings. In the painting illustrating the bringing back of Sītā to Rāma²⁹, the drawing is highly conventional, the monkey god is shown taking giant strides carrying Sītā on his head. Sītā is guarded on either side by a nymph floating in the air.