Lord Hanuman, Having Ripped Off The Mount Of Sansjeevani

In the necklace of the Ramayana characters, Lord Hanuman is the brightest-shining jewel. He is integral to the functioning of Lord Rama, the main and the most revered character of Indian itihasa. The murti you see on this page captures Him in the midst of a crucial service He rendered the princely brothers of Ayodhya. Gravely injured in the battle of Lanka, Lakshmana lies in pain, waiting for the sanjeevani herb that would revive Him. Unable to identify the exact herb the prince needs, Lord Hanuman carries the entire mount of sanjeevani across the subcontinent in rescue of the brother of Lord Rama.

This iconography of the Lord Hanuman is a symbol of His divine strength and devotion. He stands on a rough-hewn pedestal, as if with brute force He has barely lifted the peak up. Note the skill with which the lifelike musculature of the Lord has been sculpted from the brass medium. Dressed in the characteristic loincloth and angavastram, He carries in His other hand the signature mace. Within the crown-and-karnakundala frame is a face lined with determination and invincibility, moments before He embarks on the long, difficult flight down South. An engraved halo completes the composition.