LESSON BOX
uPROJECT HOME uOVERVIEW AND CONTENTS
uIMAGE LIBRARY uSOUTHEAST ASIAN VARIANTS

uGEOGRAPHY

RAMAYANA IN INDIA:
uMIDDLE SCHOOL SCRIPT
uINTERVIEW WITH ROBERT GOLDMAN
u"THE RAMAYANA, an Enduring Tradition: its Text and Context"
uWAYANG ACTIVITY
uSTORY CLOTH ACTIVITY
uVOCABULARY uREFERENCES/
LINKS
The Ramayana in Southeast Asia
 
 
 
 

IMAGE LIBRARY
 
 
 
 

Click on image for screen size view.
Click on "detail" link for large view.

Many of the images on this page are from Garrett Kam's Ramayana in the Arts of Asia (Singapore: Select Books, 2000). We gratefully acknowledge the permission to use these images for educational purposes. 

Information on ordering Ramayana in the Arts of Asia (Singapore: Select Books, 2000) can be found on the Select Books website at http://www.selectbooks.com.sg/index.htm

Images on this page credited to the Center for Southeast Asian Studies collection at U. C. Berkeley are from the Prambanan temple complex. Prambanan was built in Java, Indonesia by Rakai Pikatan, king of the Second Mataram Dynasty (late 9th century B.C.). You can find out more about the temple complex on the Java, Indonesia Atlas site. A Ramayana ballet is performed at Prambanan from May to October. Click here for some photos of the ballet in 1999 taken by Duane Ruth-Heffelbower.

Images on this page credite to Donna Kasprowicz were taken during summer 2003 during her trip with the U. S. Fulbright-Hayes Summer Seminar for Teachers in Thailand and Laos.

RAMA'S BIRTH SITA AND THE BOW EXILE RAMA REJECTS THE OGRESS THE GOLDEN DEER  SITA'S KIDNAP JATAYU HANUMAN THE BRIDGE RAMA'S TRIUMPH SITA'S TEST RETURN TO THE THRONE SITA'S EXILE
Click on image for screen size view.

CRISIS IN THE UNIVERSE AT THE TIME OF RAMA'S BIRTH 

Corte Madera Middle School Shadow Play Script.
Robert Goldman's interview
Lions flee as Ravana uproots the mountain where Shiva sits with his consort Parvati.

Temple relief
Angkor, Cambodia

Photo: Garrett Kam

detail view

 
 


 
 

Three scenes from story cloth.

Story cloth
Bali, Indonesia

Photo: Garrett Kam

1. Yama, lord of death, flees as Ravana overturns the cow-headed cauldron of hell containing lazy and evil souls.
 
 
 
 
 
 

2. Ravana fights Yama.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

3. Yama kneels before the god Brahma who tells him that only a human can kill Ravana. 

detail view of whole cloth
The god Wisnu (Vishnu) sits in heaven on a giant snake throne. On his left kneels a garuda, on his right five gods ask Wisnu's help in defeating Rawana (Ravana) who is ravaging heaven and earth. 

Temple relief
Prambanan, Java, Indonesia

Photo: CSEAS collection

detail view
RAMA WINS THE HAND OF SITA IN THE CONTEST OF THE BOW 
Corte Madera Middle School Shadow Play Script.
Robert Goldman's interview
RAMA, SITA AND LAKSHMANA GO INTO EXILE 
Corte Madera Middle School Shadow Play Script. 
Robert Goldman's interview
Rama, Sita and Lakshmana travel by chariot and then boat into exile. On the left bank of the river, Sumantra bids them farewell. On the right bank a holyman greets them. The upper right corner shows Rama's father dying of grief surrounded by his three wives.
Story cloth
Bali, Indonesia 

Photo: Garrett Kam

detail view
Rama, Sita and Lakshmana enter the forest.

Golden Gong Puppet Theatre (Yok the pwe, marionettes) 
Yangon, Myanmar  

Photo: Garrett Kam

detail view 
RAMA REJECTS RAVANA'S SISTER
Corte Madera Middle School Shadow Play Script.
Robert Goldman's interview
Ravana's ogress sister, Shurpanakha, disguises herself as a beautiful maiden, surprising a servant in the lower left corner.

Shurpanakha entices Rama as Sita and a servant listen. (Lower right)

Lakshmana cuts Shurpanakha's nose and she changes back into an ogress and flees. (Upper right.)
Story Cloth 
Bali, Indonesia.
Photo: Garrett Kam
detail view 
THE GOLDEN DEER
Corte Madera Middle School Shadow Play Script.
Robert Goldman's interview
RAMA PURSUES THE GOLDEN DEER
Wayang golek (rod puppet) and wayang kulit (leather puppet), performed by Ki Suparman

Java, Indonesia.

Photo: Garrett Kam
detail view 

Detail from polychromed wooden entrance (17th century) Shwezigon Paya temple
(Notice the ogre's face on the golden deer.)

Bagan, Myanmar

Photo: Garrett Kam

 
SITA IS KIDNAPPED
Corte Madera Middle School Shadow Play Script.
Robert Goldman's interview
Ravana kidnaps Sita.
Lakhon bassac (folk opera), DaoTan Drama Theatre

Binh dinh, Vietnam

Photo: Garrett Kam
detail view 
Jatayu (left) tries to save Sita by attacking Rawana (Ravana) . 

Temple relief
Prambanan, Java, Indonesia

Photo: CSEAS Collection
detail view 
THE VULTURE JATAYU DIES TRYING TO SAVE SITA
Robert Goldman's interview
Jatayu tries to rescue Sita. (See also photo above.) 

Detail of mural painting (late 18th C) at Wat Phra Si Ratana Satsadaram (Wat Phra Kaeo) Temple

Bangkok, Thailand
Photo: Garrett Kam
detail view

Ravana holds Sita while he battles Jatayu with a club.

Contemporary polychromed leather cutout

Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand

Photo: Garrett Kam

detail view

Jatayu gives Sita's ring to Rama before dying.  (two images)

1. Temple relief
Prambanan, Java, Indonesia

Photo: CSEAS Collection
detail view 

2. Detail from mural painting (late 18th century, restored 1971-74), Wat Phra Si Ratana Satsadaram (Wat Phra Kaeo) temple

Bangkok, Thailand

Photo: Donna Kasprowicz

detail view

THE MONKEY HANUMAN'S ADVENTURES FINDING SITA
Corte Madera Middle School Shadow Play Script. 
Robert Goldman's interview
A sea monster tries to get Hanuman to enter its mouth as the monkey flies to Ravana's kingdom of (Langka) Lanka.

Khon Sot (popular dance drama), Sangwan Cherinying troupe

Bangkok, Thailand

Photo: Garrett Kam

detail view
Hanuman delivers Rama's ring to Sita. 

Khon (court dance drama), Natyasala Dance School

Wiangchan, Laos

Photo: Garrett Kam

detail view
Ravana's men try to kill Hanuman, but he leaps onto a pedestal and smashes their heads together.

Detail, mural painting (late 18th centruy, restored 1971-74), Wat Phra Si Ratana Satsadaram (Wat Phra Kaeo) temple

Bangkok, Thailand

Photo: Garrett Kam

detail view

William #8, #7. #5
HANUMAN AND HIS ARMY BUILD A BRIDGE TO RAVANA'S KINGDOM
Corte Madera Middle School Shadow Play Script.
Robert Goldman's interview
The monkeys build a causeway of rocks to Ravana's kingdom. Hanuman dives below the sea and finds Suvarnamatsya.

Detail from painted window panel, Wat That Luang Ratsamahawihan temple
Luang Phabang, Laos.
Photo: Garrett Kam
detail view
Hanuman attacks a fish that is trying to carry away a boulder. 

Detail from mural painting (late 18th century, restored 1971-74), Wat Phra Si Ratana Satsadaram (Wat Phra Kaeo) temple

Bangkok, Thailand

Photo: Garrett Kam

detail view

Detail from mural painting (late 18th century, restored 1971-74), Wat Phra Si Ratana Satsadaram (Wat Phra Kaeo) temple

Bangkok, Thailand

Photo: Donna Kasprowicz
RAMA'S FORCES TRIUMPH OVER RAVANA
Corte Madera Middle School Shadow Play Script.
Robert Goldman's interview
Rama and Ravana fight in the chariot at center while monkeys and ogres battle around them.

Detail of mural painting (1990s), Thai Cultural Center

Bangkok, Thailand

Photo: Garrett Kam
 

detail view 

William's #9, 17a and b
SITA IS TESTED
Corte Madera Middle School Shadow Play Script.
 
Rama holds the portrait of Ravana drawn on a slate as Lakshmana and Sita look on. 

Lakhon khol (masked dance drama), Siem Reap troupe

Angkor, Cambodia

Photo: Garrett Kam
 

detail view 
The monkeys watch Sita walking through the fire fanned by Hanuman.

Detail of mural painting (late 18th century, restored 1971-74), Wat Phra Si Ratana Satsadaram (Wat Phra Kaeo) temple

Bangkok, Thailand

Photo: Garrett Kam
 

detail view 
RAMA AND SITA RETURN TO RULE IN PEACE
Corte Madera Middle School Shadow Play Script.
Robert Goldman's interview

SITA IS EXILED: Alternative endings (see Thai Ramakien)

Detail from mural painting (late 18th century, restored 1971-74), Wat Phra Si Ratana Satsadaram (Wat Phra Kaeo) temple

Bangkok, Thailand

Photo: Donna Kasprowicz

 

Robert Goldman's interview