Iconography of Rama and Sita

Iconography of Lord Rama and Sita at Khajuraho Temples has been artistically carved and looks magnificent. The images of Rama and Sita located in the northern facade of the mandapa of the Parshvanatha Temple are almost 2 ft 10 in height. They are depicted as standing on a bracket in tribhanga. Here Rama possesses four arms. He is seen holding a long arrow diagonally downwards and wears a short dhoti that extends little above the knees. Its rear is in his upper right arm and the head in the lower left.

The lower right arm of Rama is placed over the head of Lord Hanuman, his fervent disciple in palita mudru with four of its fingers folded. With his upper left arm he is seen embracing Sita, his wife who is standing to his left. Rama is provided with quiver on his right shoulder. He is adorned with kirita mukuta, chhannavira, armlets, two necklaces, ear pendants, beaded bracelets, girdle that has an ornate belt with a central clasp. He also wears a long hanging garland that extends up to the knees.

The image of Sita is also visible here. Here she is represented with two arms bearing a rolled lotus in her left arm while with her right arm she holds Rama in alingana mudra. Sita is adorned with an ornamented coiffure and a saree that goes up to a little above the ankles. She is seen wearing ear rings and two necklaces. One of them is made of square pendants held together by a beaded string while the other one is made of two rows of beaded strings. One of the rings goes downwards between the breasts. Lord Hanuman is two arms and raises his left arm to touch the fingers of Rama while his right arm is folded. He is seen wearing a simple head gear, necklace, bracelets and a kaupina. The image looks stunning and has been perfectly carved with detailed elaboration.

The story of Ramayana is also famous among the Jains. It has been due importance in many Jain works from the early centuries down to the 17th century AD. Some of them are the Paumacariyam of Vimalasari (close of the 3rd century AD), Vasudevahindi written by Sanghadasa, Padmapurana of Ravisena (678 A. D ), Uttarapurana composed by Gunabhadra (9th century A.D.), Mahapurana of Puspadanta (965 A.D.), Triastisalnkapurusacaritra written by Hemachandra (12th century A. D.). Paintings of Ramakatha can be seen in the southern facade, near the Sikhara of the Parshvanatha Temple. The painting depicts Sita sitting under a tree at Asoka Vatika in Lanka after being abducted by Ravana. Hanuman is seen surrounded by demons with swords in their hands. This conveys the message of Lord Rama sending his ring to Sita.