Jatayu Vadham

Raja Ravi Varma’s Jatayu Vadham is a dramatic masterpiece from his celebrated series of paintings based on the Ramayana. The work captures the tragic moment when the noble bird Jatayu, having valiantly tried to rescue Sita from Ravana, lies mortally wounded after his fierce battle with the demon king. Ravi Varma brings the epic to life with his mastery of realism, expression, and color, combining European academic techniques with Indian mythological subjects. The painting not only highlights Jatayu’s heroism and sacrifice but also reflects Ravi Varma’s larger contribution of making Hindu epics visually accessible to the public through his canvases and later prints.