{
"data": {
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"tombstone": "The birth of Rama and his brothers, from Chapter 17 of the Bala Kanda (Book of Childhood) of the Adhyatma Ramayana (Rama's Journey of the Supreme Spirit) from the Brahmanda Purana (Ancient Scripture of the Cosmic Egg), c. 1820\u201330. Northern India, Pahari Region, Himachal Pradesh, Rajput Kingdom of Kangra, Court of Aniruddh Chand (reigned 1823\u201333). Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper; painting: 25.1 x 34 cm (9 7/8 x 13 3/8 in.); overall: 29.9 x 38.5 cm (11 3/4 x 15 3/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Edward L. Whittemore Fund, 1953.13",
"current_location": null,
"title": "The birth of Rama and his brothers, from Chapter 17 of the Bala Kanda (Book of Childhood) of the Adhyatma Ramayana (Rama's Journey of the Supreme Spirit) from the Brahmanda Purana (Ancient Scripture of the Cosmic Egg)",
"creation_date": "c. 1820\u201330",
"creation_date_earliest": 1820,
"creation_date_latest": 1845,
"artists_tags": [],
"culture": [
"Northern India, Pahari Region, Himachal Pradesh, Rajput Kingdom of Kangra, Court of Aniruddh Chand (reigned 1823\u201333)"
],
"technique": "Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper",
"support_materials": [],
"department": "Indian and Southeast Asian Art",
"collection": "Indian Art",
"type": "Painting",
"measurements": "Painting: 25.1 x 34 cm (9 7/8 x 13 3/8 in.); Overall: 29.9 x 38.5 cm (11 3/4 x 15 3/16 in.)",
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{
"inscription": "[[verso, in Sanskrit]] a\u015bame m\u0101si kausaly\u0101 su\u1e63uve putramadbhutam madhum\u0101se site pak\u015be navamy\u0101\u1e41 karka\u1e6de \u015bubhe punarvakh\u1e5bk\u015basahite uccasye grahapa\u00f1cake me\u1e63a\u1e41 p\u016b\u1e63a\u1e47\u012b sa\u1e41pr\u0101pte pu\u1e63pav\u1e5b\u1e63tisam\u0101kule \u0101vir\u0101s\u012bjjagannatha\u1e25 param\u0101tm\u0101 san\u0101tana\u1e25 n\u012blotpaladala\u015by\u0101ma\u1e25 p\u012btav\u0101sa\u015bcaturbhuja\u1e25 jalaj\u0101ru\u1e47anetranta\u1e25 sphuratku\u1e47\u1e0dalama\u1e47\u1e0dita\u1e25 sahastr\u0101rkaprat\u012bk\u0101\u015ba\u1e25 kir\u012b\u1e6d\u012b ku\u00f1cit\u0101laka\u1e25 \u015ba\u1e45khacakragad\u0101padyavanam\u0101l\u0101vir\u0101jita\u1e25 anugrah\u0101khyah\u1e5btsthendus\u016bcakasmitacandrika\u1e25 karu\u1e47\u0101rasasamp\u016br\u1e47avish\u0101lotpalalocana\u1e25 \u015br\u012bvatsah\u0101rakey\u016bran\u016b pur\u0101divibh\u016b\u1e63a\u1e47a. d\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e6dv\u0101 ta\u1e41 param\u0101tm\u0101na\u1e41 kausaly\u0101 vikhay\u0101kul\u0101 har\u1e63a\u015brup\u016br\u1e47anayan\u0101 natv\u0101 pr\u0101\u00f1jalirabrav\u012bt kausalyov\u0101ca devadeva namastestu \u015b\u1e41khacakragad\u0101dhara parm\u0101tm\u0101cyutonanta\u1e25 p\u016br\u1e47astva\u1e41 puru\u1e63ottama\u1e25 vadantyagocara\u1e41 v\u0101c\u0101\u1e41 buddhath\u0101d\u012bn\u0101mat\u012bndriyam tv\u0101\u1e41 vedav\u0101dina\u1e25 sattam\u0101tra\u1e41 jnanaikavigraham svameva m\u0101yay\u0101 vi\u015bva\u1e41 s\u1e5bjasvavasi ha\u1e41si ca sattvadigu\u1e47asa\u1e41yuktasturya ev\u0101mala\u1e25 sad\u0101 karoviva na kart\u0101 sva\u1e41 gacchas\u012bva na gacchasi \u015b\u1e5b\u1e47o\u1e63i na \u015b\u1e5b\u1e47ov\u012bva pa\u015byas\u012bva na pa\u015byasi agr\u0101\u1e47o \u015bman\u0101\u1e25 suddha ity\u0101di \u015brutirabrav\u012bt sama\u1e25 sarve\u1e63u bh\u016bte\u1e63u ti\u1e63\u1e6dhaapi na lak\u015byase ajn\u0101nadhv\u0101ntacit\u0101n\u0101\u1e41 vyakta eva sumedhas\u0101m ja\u1e6dhare tava d\u1e5b\u015b\u1e41yante brahm\u0101\u1e47\u1e0d\u0101\u1e25 param\u0101\u1e47ava\u1e25 tva\u1e41 mamodarasambh\u016bta iti lok\u0101nvi\u1e0dambase bhakte\u1e63u p\u0101rava\u015bya\u1e41 te d\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e6da\u1e41 megha ragh\u016bttama sa\u1e41s\u0101ras\u0101gare magn\u0101 patiputradhan\u0101di\u1e63u bhram\u0101mi m\u0101yay\u0101 tegha p\u0101dam\u016blamup\u0101gat\u0101 deva tvadr\u016bpametanme sad\u0101 ti\u1e63\u1e6dhatu m\u0101nase \u0101v\u1e5b\u1e47otu na m\u0101\u1e45 m\u0101y\u0101 tava vi\u015bvavimohin\u012b upasa\u1e41hara vi\u015bv\u0101sma ado r\u016bpamalaukikam dar\u015bayasva mah\u0101nandab\u0101labh\u0101va\u1e41 sukomalam lalit\u0101li\u1e41gan\u0101l\u0101paistari\u1e63y\u0101myutkata\u1e41 tama\u1e25 \u015br\u012bbhagav\u0101nuv\u0101ca yadyadi\u1e63\u1e6dha\u1e41 tav\u0101styamba tattadravatu n\u0101nyatha aha\u1e41 tu brahma\u1e47\u0101 p\u016brva\u1e43 bh\u016bmerbh\u0101r\u0101panuttye pr\u0101rthito r\u0101va\u1e47a\u1e43 m\u0101nu\u1e63atvamup\u0101gata\u1e25 svay\u0101 da\u015barathen\u0101ha\u1e41 tapas\u0101r\u0101dhita\u1e25 pur\u0101 matputratv\u0101bhik\u0101\u1e0dik\u015ba\u1e47y\u0101 tath\u0101 k\u1e5btamanindite r\u016bpametatvay\u0101 d\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e6da\u1e43 pr\u0101ttana\u1e43 tapasa\u1e25 phalam maddarshana\u1e43 vimok\u015b\u0101ya kalpate hmanyadurlabha\u1e41 sa\u1e41v\u0101dam\u0101vayoryastu pa\u1e6dheddh\u0101 \u1e63\u1e5b\u1e47uy\u0101dapi sa y\u0101ti mama s\u0101r\u016bpya\u1e41 mara\u1e47e matsm\u1e5bti\u1e43 labhet ityuktv\u0101 m\u0101tara\u1e41 r\u0101mo b\u0101lo bh\u016btv\u0101 ruroda ha b\u0101latvep\u012bndran\u012bl\u0101bho vi\u015b\u0101lak\u015botisundara\u1e25 b\u0101l\u0101ru\u1e47aprat\u012bk\u0101\u015bo l\u0101lit\u0101khilalokapa\u1e25 atha r\u0101j\u0101 da\u015baratha\u1e25 \u015brutv\u0101 putrodbhavotsavam \u0101nand\u0101r\u1e47avamagnps\u0101v\u0101yayau guru\u1e47a saha r\u0101ma\u1e41 r\u0101j\u012bvapatr\u0101k\u015ba\u1e41 d\u1e5b\u1e63tv\u0101 har\u1e63a\u015brusa\u1e41pluta\u1e25 guru\u1e47a j\u0101takarm\u0101\u1e47i kartavy\u0101ni cak\u0101ra sa\u1e25 kaikey\u012b c\u0101tha bharatamas\u016bta kamalek\u015ba\u1e47a sumitr\u0101y\u0101\u1e41 yayau j\u0101tau pur\u1e47endusad\u1e5b\u015b\u0101nanau",
"inscription_translation": "In the tenth month, Kaushalya gave birth to an exceptional child. The supreme spirit, the eternal being, and the lord of all, incarnated in the month of Chaitra amidst a shower of flowers on the ninth day of the bright fortnight under the constellation of Punarvasu in the auspicious zodiacal sign of cancer when the five planets[the Sun, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, and Venus] were ascending and the sun was in the sign of the ram (Mesha). Blue in complexion like the petals of a lily, clad in a yellow robe, with four arms, eyes tinged with lotus-red, sporting a pair of shining ear-pendants, luminous as a hundred suns, crowned with a diadem over his head of curly locks, adorned with conch, discus, mace, and lotus in his four arms and a wreath of wild flowers adorning his chest--her face lit by the \u202fsight of the lord's glorious figure, Kaushalya greeted him with hands raised and eyes brimming with tears of pleasure. \"Salutations to Thee, Lord of all divinities and Weaver of celestial emblems such as the conch, discus, and mace! You, Lord, are the supreme spirit, the highest of all beings; you are eternal, all-pervasive, and unlimited. The adepts of the Vedas assert that you are indescribable through words and incomprehensible through the conceptual process of the intellect. You are the essence of all beings as pure existence, transcending the scope of the senses, and your shape is pure consciousness. You, in collaboration with the gunas of rajas, sattva, and tamas, create, maintain, and destroy the cosmos with your power known as maya. But you are always the pure being, the fourth that transcends waking, dreaming, and sleeping. You appear to be a doer, but you are not; you appear to be moving, but you are not; you appear to be hearing, but you are not; and you appear to be seeing, but you are not. Without life, without consciousness, and untouched - this is how the Vedas describe you. Though you reside as an unaltered being in all beings, you are beyond the reach of those whose minds are clouded by ignorance; only those with a clear mind can recognize you. All of the world systems in the cosmos are no larger than the atoms in your abdomen. Following the world's ways, you are born from my womb. You are the most aristocratic of Raghu's descendants! Today, via your condescension, I have come to realize how you submit yourself to your followers. Today, I have gained your holy feet, I, who is\u202fsunk in the ocean of Samsara, the transmigratory cycle, and am forced by your illusionary power into an infatuation with husband, children, riches, and other mundane worries. O Lord! May this image of yours be forever etched in my consciousness, and may your maya, the power that hypnotizes the entire world, have no influence or power over me. Spirit of the cosmos! Deign to withdraw this superhuman form [and appear] as a baby who brings joy to everyone who beholds it. I will overcome the terrible darkness of ignorance by cuddling and conversing with you as a baby.\u201d The Lord spoke, \"O mother! Let everything transpire as you desire. It will never be different. Brahma has pleaded with me in the past to relieve the world of its burdens by eliminating Ravana. I've now taken on a human shape for this purpose. In addition, O noble lady, you and Dasharatha had undergone austerities in the past, praying that you might receive me as your son. This form of Mine that you have witnessed is a vision granted to you as a reward for the austerities you have performed in the past. This form cannot be experienced in any other manner. For, my vision bestows freedom on those who comprehend it. Those who study this discussion between us or even hear it read will remember me at the time of death and acquire sarupya, which consists of the attainment of My form.\u201d In response, Rama assumed the form of an infant and wailed like a newborn baby. Even in his newborn form, he was incredibly gorgeous, with a skin as blue as a sapphire and exceptionally large eyes. He gleamed like the morning sun, and all the guardian deities of the four cardinal directions rejoiced at his birth. Upon hearing the joyful news of the birth of a son, King Dasharatha hurried to visit the infant, accompanied by his family priest Vasishtha. Dasharatha, whose eyes resembled lotus petals and were filled with tears of delight at the sight of the infant Rama, conducted all the birth ceremonies for him as commanded by his teacher. After that, the beautiful Kaikeyi gave birth to Bharata, and Sumitra gave birth to a set of moon-faced twins.",
"inscription_remark": "This inscription is oriented to assume a horizontal page turning.",
"sortorder": null
}
],
"exhibitions": {
"current": [
{
"id": 309885,
"title": "Sacred India",
"description": "Sacred India. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (November 5, 1985-January 12, 1986).",
"opening_date": "1985-11-05T05:00:00"
},
{
"id": 457592,
"title": "Imagining Rama\u2019s Journey",
"description": "Imagining Rama\u2019s Journey. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (March 10-September 17, 2023).",
"opening_date": "2023-03-09T05:00:00"
}
],
"legacy": []
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"provenance": [
{
"description": "(Heeramaneck Galleries, New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)",
"citations": [],
"footnotes": null,
"date": "?\u20131953",
"sortorder": 1
},
{
"description": "The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH",
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"footnotes": null,
"date": "1953\u2013",
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"did_you_know": "King Dasharatha thought his wife Kaikeyi, shown sleeping, was the most beautiful of his three wives.",
"description": "In a retelling of the Ramayana from the 1200s, the blue god Vishnu appears in a vision to Queen Kaushalya just before she gives birth to his incarnation as Rama. In the foreground, her co-wife Queen Sumitra nurses one of her own newborn twins, Lakshmana and Shatrughna. Rama\u2019s half-brother Bharata lies swaddled next to his mother Queen Kaikeyi on an adjacent terrace of the women\u2019s quarters. The patterned carvings and textiles of the palace interior communicate the luxury into which the princes were born, and from which Rama and Lakshmana will be eventually exiled.",
"external_resources": {
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"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q60516260"
],
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"https://archive.org/details/clevelandart-1953.13-the-birth-of-rama-an"
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"citations": [
{
"citation": "Boger, Ann C., and Joellin K. DeOreo. Sacred India: Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art in cooperation with Indiana University Press, 1985.",
"page_number": "Reproduced: p.25.",
"url": ""
},
{
"citation": "Ward, William E. \"Three Indian Paintings.\" The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 42, no. 1 (Jan. 1955): 12\u201315.",
"page_number": "Mentioned and Reproduced: pp. 13\u201314",
"url": "https://www.jstor.org/stable/25142007"
},
{
"citation": "Leach, Linda York. Indian Miniature Paintings and Drawings. Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Museum of Art in cooperation with Indiana University Press, 1986.",
"page_number": "Reproduced: p. 302, cat. no. 130",
"url": ""
}
],
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"creditline": "Edward L. Whittemore Fund",
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"athena_id": 130365,
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"legal_status": "accessioned",
"accession_date": "1953-02-04T00:00:00",
"sortable_date": 1820,
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"date_text": "c. 1820\u201330",
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"alternate_titles": [
"Scenes from the Birth of Krishna",
"Scenes from the Birth of Rama"
],
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"updated_at": "2026-05-01 06:49:12.183000"
}
}