Indian Bronze Ravana Image

Cast Bronze Image of Ravana

This unusual cast bronze image of Ravana is from the tribal areas of Rajasthan, India. It has an imposing presence.

The figure has ten heads cast right around in a circular fashion and twenty arms. It has a flattened body but with traditional dress including a vest and a flared skirt all highly decorated with swirling borders in relief. Ravana holds in his two primary arms a shield and a sword.

The figure stands on a circular open-work dais.

See Curvelo

et al (2008, p. 21) for a related figure in Lisbon’s Orient Museum.

Ravana is the primary antagonist in the Hnidu epic Ramayana. He is the demonic king of Lanka (a kingdom based in Sri Lanka). He kidnaps Sita and holds her captive in Lanka until she is rescued by her husband Rama and his army of monkeys led by Hanuman. For most in India, Ravana is indeed demonic and evil, but for the Dalits (formerly known as the ‘Untouchable’ caste), Ravana has become a deity that represents struggle and bravery. Traditionally, Hindus have burned effigies of Ravana during the annual Vijayadashami (Dussehra) festival to celebrate the victory of good over evil, and this has led to protests by Dalits.