illustration from the bharany ramayana: the monkey army intruding upon a demon’s cave

first generation after nainsukh and manaku

This folio originates from the Bharany Ramayana series, named after collector and dealer C.L. Bharany. The painting is attributed to the first-generation Kangra masters following Nainsukh and Manaku, earning it the moniker ‘second Guler Ramayana.’ Its lineage, tied to both artistry and collectors, elevates its status as a highly sought-after collectible. 

The scene depicted, portrays a battle between monkey army troops and a demon within a cave. Sugriva, the benevolent monkey king of Kishkindha, witnessed Sita’s abduction and, exiled at the time, saw her throwing jewels into a cave, hoping to create a trail for Rama. The painting captures Sugriva confronting a demon in that cave, intending to inform Rama and Lakshmana of the incident. 

The intricate scenery, marked by airbrushed trees and flying birds, conveys a sense of passing time. The foregrounding and backgrounding of flora and fauna enhance the overall artistic richness. The iconographic and stylistic representation of the Ramayana aligns with the ‘Tehri Garhwal’ Gita Govinda and the ‘Modi’ Bhagavad Purana. According to W.G. Archer, the series was commissioned by Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra’s mother for his wedding. 

Other illustrations from the Bharany series are housed in esteemed institutions like the San Diego Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rietberg Museum, Philadelphia Museum, and Minneapolis Museum.