Rama Copper alloy South India, Chola period

Acquired 1960

Color greener than in catalogue illustration. Encrusted and corroded green patina overall. Several small casting holes on base. No restoration.
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The deity standing in elegant tribhanga, his arms stringing his bow, the Kodhanda, now missing. He is richly adorned in a crown and bejeweled necklaces, armbands and girdle. His face with downcast eyes and slightly smiling lips bears a divine expression.

The sculpture would have originally been part of a group of four images featuring Rama's wife Sita, his brother Lakshmana, who accompanied them into exile, and the devoted monkey-general Hanuman who was instrumental in securing Rama's victory over the demon-king Ravana.

While the tale of Rama was no doubt widely beloved during the Chola period, single sculptures of the deity are not commonly encountered, making this a rare example. It is possible that fewer images were created since they were always part of the quartet described above.

For large sculptures of the deity see P. Chandra, The Sculpture of India, Washington DC, 1985, cat. 94, p. 194-5; and V. Dehejia, The Sensuous and the Sacred, New York, 2002, cat. 46, p. 188-9.