Rama and Lakshmana attack Tataka

The above painting, beautifully painted by Mushfiq- a sub-imperial Mughal painter who worked in the atelier of Abd-ur-Rahim Khan-i-Khanan depicts the incident of the slaying of the monstrous demoness Tataka by Rama under the guidance of Sage Vishwamitra. The painting is an illumination of the Verse 35 of The Ramayana(The tales of Rama, The Freer Ramayana) Volume 1, commisioned by Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan in 1626. The original incident is mentioned in the Bala Kanda of The Valmiki Ramayna- Chapter (sarga-26). The painting portrays- The gigantic demoness-Tataka;with a mosntrous body,claws,tusks and an aggresive and fierce expression, Rama- who's dressed in yellow,drawing his bow and preparing to attack, Lakshmana-who's in red standing next to rama,assisting him and a surrounding of a cursed Tataka forest where she terrorized sages and disrupted sacred rituals. Vishwamitra orders Rama to kill Tataka and he obeys it as it his DHARMA to obey his guru's instructions. He strings his bow,producing a thunderous sound that enrages Tataka. Rama and Lakshmana fight Tataka's illusion and her magical violent powers, rama disables her arms while lakshmana cutting off her nose and ears to finally Rama shooting a fatal arrow in her chest,killing her. The theme of the piainting is duty over personal feelings, restoration of peace,obedience. The painting illustrates - rama's first great trial,where he improves his commitment to DHARMA under the guidance of Sage Vishwamitra.