c. 1750

Dying Jatayus Tells Rama and Lakshmana about Sita

In the great Hindu religious tale the Ramayana, the divine Prince Rama's wife, Sita, is kidnapped by Ravana, demon king of Lanka. As Ravana carries Sita off in his flying chariot, they are spotted by the great eagle/vulture chief Jatayu, one of the most heroic animals in India's religious literature. Jatayu tries to stop Ravana, but the demon mortally wounds the bird. As Jatayu is dying, Rama and his brother Lakshmana find him and Jatayu, with his last breath, tells the brothers of seeing Sita with Ravana. This gloriously colored, folklike painting shows the great bird, blood streaming from his wounds, in conversation with the brothers. While his tail is raptorlike, his body and head resemble a rooster.