Hanuman Spies Sita in the Ashoka Grove — Shangri Ramayana

This Pahari miniature illustrates a dramatic episode from the Indian epic, the Ramayana, where Hanuman finds the queen Sita held captive in a palace garden. Sita is shown seated on a terrace under a pavilion, attended by female attendants, while Hanuman kneels before her to offer Rama's ring as a sign of recognition. The composition uses vibrant colors and architectural perspective to frame the quiet, emotional intensity of their meeting against a backdrop of a river and distant town.

As a primary source representing the Ramayana, this work is central to the literary and religious heritage of the Indic traditions. It serves as a visual meditation on the themes of devotion (bhakti), loyalty, and the triumph of dharma over demonic forces as codified in the Valmiki Ramayana.