golden deer

This stunning artwork portrays the story of Ram killing the golden deer deep in the forest.

Ravan, King of Lanka, angered by Lakshman cutting off his sister’s nose, asked the demon Maricha who could take any form of animal to become a golden deer to tempt Sita. Sita seeing this deer asked Ram to catch it for her. Ram after chasing the deer soon realised that it was a demon and so shot him with a golden arrow killing him.

The artist shows Ravan in the left-hand corner with his multiple heads and arms watching Sita so that he can choose the right moment to present himself disguised as a sage and kidnap her.