Traditional Balinese Wayang Kamasan Cloth Painting was made during the mid-1970s. This cloth possibly depicts scenes related to Ravana, the king of demons who had 10 heads and 20 arms. One day he spied Rama’s beautiful wife Sita in the forest and fell in love with her instantly.
Ravana arranged for his servant Maricha to disguise himself as a golden deer in order to tempt Rama and Lakshman (the younger brother of Rama) away from Sita. Lakshman drew a circle in the dust around Sita to protect her and told her not to step out of the circle.
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But Ravana cleverly disguised himself as an old beggar man and begged Sita for food and drink. Sita took pity on him and stepped out of the circle. The beggar then turned back into Ravana whereupon he caught Sita in his arms and pulled her into his magic flying chariot. Sita cried for help and a fierce bird Jatayu (nephew of Garuda) attacked Ravana in an effort to stop him. But Ravana cut off the bird’s wings with his sword. Sita threw her necklace to the ground, in the hope that Rama would save her.
Rama and Sita are actually incarnations of Hindu gods, Rama is one of the incarnations of Vishnu, the god of Protection, and is one of the trinity of the three most important Hindu gods – Brahma the creator, Vishnu the protector, and Shiva the destroyer. Vishnu has had nine incarnations on earth as different beings. Vishnu has ten incarnations in all, the tenth is yet to happen!
Sita also known as Janaki is a Hindu goddess, she is the consort of Rama, and she is also regarded as Vishnu’s consort Lakshmi.
The Ramayana begins in heaven as Vishnu and Lakshmi look down and see the earth overrun with demons. They decide to come down to earth to get rid of the demons. Sita is an incarnation of Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Lakshmi is Vishnu’s wife and whenever Vishnu incarnates she incarnates with him.
Vishnu and Lakshmi, as both gods have specific attributes which are always included in these Wayang kamasan paintings.
