"The Awakening of Kumbhakarna in the Golden City of Lanka", Folio from a Ramayana

Unknown

ca. 1605 · Opaque watercolor and gold on paper · Islamic Art

Kumbhakarna, the giant brother of the demon Ravana, was tricked by the gods into asking Brahma for the boon of interminable sleep. Ravana built him a lavishly adorned palace, where he slumbered for one hundred years until being awakened by his demon attendants in the episode shown here. They are alerting him that Rama and Lakshmana, together with their monkey and bear armies, have attacked the city of Lanka.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1605

Medium

Opaque watercolor and gold on paper

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Cynthia Hazen Polsky and Leon B. Polsky Fund, 2002