Sri Sita Ram

In Northern India, the Rama Chandra avatar is perhaps the most popular of all the incarnations of Vishnu and certainly the Ramayana, in which his history is found, contains some of the most beautiful legends in the whole of the sacred writings of the Hindus.

This prayer cloth in yellow, a colour symbolic of devotion and religion, has the chant 'Shri Sita Ram' inscribed in red. Auspicious Vaishnavite symbols fill the space between the invocation mantra. On the vertical borders, in a circular frame is the picture of eternal love and devotion that all Hindus hold sacred. In the middle stands Lord Rama, flanked by his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana. He is dressed as a Suryavanshi prince, replete with crown, jewellery and garlands. He holds a bow in one hand and a quiver of arrows adorn his right shoulder. Sita and Lakshmana are also dressed in a similar royal manner. At the feet of Rama sits Hanumana, devotion and dedication personified. Hindu mythology and history end their search of a supreme devotee with Hanuman. Here, he offers flowers to his lord and his mace lies next to him. What makes the picture perfect is that it includes the epitome of fraternal affection, love of a wife for her husband, together with devotion of a devotee towards his Lord. The image infuses love and brotherhood, hence its importance.