Bas-relief depicting King Dasharatha’s funeral
King Dasaratha’s funeral
The bas-relief depicts the funeral ceremony of Dasharatha, the king of Ayodhya and father of Rama, and is based on an episode from Ramayana.
Here is the story behind this bas-relief:
Rama is the legitimate heir to the throne of Ayodhya because he is the eldest of the four sons from Dasharatha’s three wives. Kaikeye, one of Dasharatha’s wives, wants her son Bharata to be the future king of Ayodhya.
When King Dasharatha becomes ready to hand-over his reign to Rama, Kaikeye invokes two varas (boons) that Dasharatha had given to her when she saved his life during a battle. She asks him to make Bharata the crown prince and banish Rama to the forest for 14 years. King Dasharatha reluctantly agrees as he could not go back on his promises. Rama respects his father’s wishes and leaves Ayodhya for the forest along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana. King Dasharatha becomes grief-stricken and dies soon after.
This bas-relief is carved on the inner walls of the balustrade surrounding the inner sanctum of the Shiva Temple in Prambanan.
Check the Prambanan Bas-Reliefs page to read more about the bas-reliefs in the Prambanan temples.
Ramayana Related Images
– Rama, Sita and Lakshmana leaving Ayodhya for exile
– Dancing at the inauguration of Bharata
– Ravana abducting Sita
– Rama slaying Mareecha
– Rama killing Viradha
– Rama killing Kabandha
– Vanara Sené building Rama Setu
Other Related Images
– Shiva Temple
– Corridor surrounding the inner sanctum of the Shiva Temple
Related Pages
– Prambanan, Prambanan Bas-Reliefs, Borobudur, Bali, Indonesia
– Angkor Wat, Angkor Wat Bas-Reliefs, Banteay Srei, Cambodia
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