| A scene from the Ramayana: Ravana, king of the demons of Lanka (Sri
Lanka) and the enemy of Rama, goes to Mount
Kailasa, home of Shiva and his wife, Parvati,
where he tries to enter, but is forbidden access.
He is furious and shouts at the monkey-headed
guardian, who yells back saying that Ravana's
power will be destroyed by the monkeys. Ravana
(multiple heads and arms) is so angry he raises
the base of Mount Kailasa and shakes it with all
his might.
Shiva sits on his throne at the
summit of the mountain while his terrified wife,
Parvati, hovers near his left knee, clinging to
his shoulder. Shiva retaliates and prepares to
bring down the whole mountain upon Ravana with
his toe.
|
 Other
figures in the scene include creatures, hermits
and animals living on the mountain who express
their terror and flee to the jungle.
On the first step the
monkey-faced guardian of the mountain raises his
hand, perhaps to warn Ravana that one day he will
be destroyed by the monkeys.
|
Paul or Hikaru (or both?)
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