The Coronation of Rama

Description

Produced by the Ravi Varma Press in Lonavala, and widely distributed across India during the early twentieth century as devotional wall art.

Historical context

This sacred scene captures the profound moment of Ramrajyabhisheka, the coronation of Lord Rama upon his return to Ayodhya. Mahadev Vishwanath Dhurandhar, a master of his craft, depicts the divine couple seated upon a golden throne as sages perform the final rituals of anointment. Hanuman, the devoted servant, sits humbly at the feet of his Lord, embodying pure bhakti. The composition radiates a sense of eternal harmony and righteous governance, which resonated deeply with the Indian public during the nationalist movement. Through the medium of the chromolithograph, this image entered the domestic spaces of millions, transforming private homes into sites of communal worship and national pride.