South Indian Inscriptions

ARCHITECTURE SCULPTURE AND PAINTING

...One of these panels is now housed in a small hut erected for the purpose near the āśrama. It is 3’ 8” by 3’ 5” in size and is named Bharata-bhēṭa. (Meeting of Bharata)¹. There are four figures in this panel, viz., Sītā, Rāma, Bharata and Lakshmaṇa. One other figure appears by the side of Sītā, but it is partially cut. This panel, being more than 1500 years old, is now much worn out; but still the figures are fairly clear. Sītā has clasped the arm of Rāma, who is speaking to Bharata. He has affectionately placed his left hand on the right palm of Bharata. Rama’s face has a serene look. Bharata, who has slightly bent down his face, appears delighted to meet his revered elder brother. Lakshmaṇa, on the other hand, has turned his face away and appears disconsolate. All of them are clad only in a lower garment which appears striped as in the frescoes at Ajaṇṭā. Rāma and Lakshmaṇa wear matted hair. Bharata’s hair has fallen on both his shoulders. All the figures are very well modelled. Rāma’s body appears graceful and Lakshmaṇa’s muscular. There is no artificiality seen anywhere in the modelling or pose of any of the figures. Naturalness, restraint and simplicity, which are known to be the characteristics of the sculptures of the Gupta age, are noticed in the figures of this panel. It must therefore be referred to the Vākāṭaka-Gupta age.

...This panel is rightly named Bharata-bhēṭa by Śhrī Vinōbā, but this meeting of Rāma and Bharata is not the one which took place at Nandigrāma after Rāma’s return from Laṅkā It is the earlier one which occurred at Chitrakūṭa. We know from Vālmīki’s Rāmāyaṇa that Bharata, on his return to Ayōdhyā, came to know of the exile of Rāma and the death of Daśaratha. He at once decided to bring Rāma back, and for that purpose started in search of him, accompanied by his ministers and army as well as the people of Ayōdhyā. Rāma was then staying at the Chitrakūṭa hill. When he noticed a large cloud of dust in the distance, he asked Lakshmaṇa to find out the cause of it. The latter climbed a tree, and from the banner marked by the kōvidāra tree, he inferred that Bharata was coming towards them.. He suspected that Bharata’s object in coming with a large army was to do away with them and thus to get the throne permanently. Rāma could, however, guess the real purpose of Bharata’s visit. He tried to disabuse Lakshmaṇa’s mind of that suspicion by telling him that Bharata must be coming there to take them back to Ayōdhyā. But Lakshmaṇa was not convinced.² This attitude of Lakshmaṇa’s mind is skilfully shown by the sculptor in the present panels. While Rāma and Bharata are engaged in a heart-to-heart talk, Lakshmaṇa is looking in the opposite direction. Indifference, if not positive hostility, is imprinted on his face.

... This panel, the interpretation of which is quite certain, affords a key to the understanding of the other panels found near the āśrama. It shows that the temple to which it was affixed must have been dedicated to Rāma. The other panels also must, evidently, have been related to some incident or other in the life of Rāma. And this is what we actually find to be the case; for, some of the other panels portray such events as the birth of Rāma, the death of Daśaratha, the departure of Rāma and others to the forest, the fight of Sugrīva and Vālin, etc. Most of these are now sadly mutilated. But there remains one which is fairly intact.

... This panel,3 4’ 4’’ by 2’ 11” in size, portrays the scene when, in the course of the fighting between Sugrīva and Vālin, the latter fell down, being hit by an arrow of Rāma, who, together with Lakshmaṇa and Hanumān, had concealed himself behind some palm
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¹ See Plate B.
² Rāmāyaṇa, IV, 17, 35-43; 18, 6-7; 18, 21.
³ See Plate C.