Dimensions: Height 29 cm Wide 36 cm Depth 8,5 cm

Weight: 3902 grams

A finely cast bronze triad depicting the epic heroes Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana beneath a broad foliate arch (torana). Rama, the central figure, stands in a graceful tribhaṅga pose, his right hand raised in protection and the left extended outward. He wears a tall conical crown and short dhoti adorned with incised patterns. To his right stands Sita, elegantly proportioned and adorned with jewelry and a long clinging garment, her hand raised in a gesture of reassurance. To his left is Lakshmana, Rama’s devoted brother, mirroring the stance of the central figure, likewise crowned and richly ornamented. The figures are united by their positioning on a shared lotus base and framed by a pierced arch decorated with stylized foliage and kīrtimukha at its crest.

This shrine was created using the lost-wax casting (cire perdue) technique, the most prevalent method in South Indian bronzes. Each figure was first modeled in beeswax, encased in clay, and then cast in a single pour of molten alloy. The fine detailing of ornaments and garments was achieved by chiseling after casting, demonstrating the skill of regional bronze ateliers active during the 16th century.

The scene derives from the Rāmāyaṇa, one of India’s most celebrated epics. Rama and Sita embody the ideals of dharma (righteous duty) and marital fidelity, while Lakshmana represents the virtue of loyalty and selfless devotion. Shrines such as this were central to domestic worship and temple processions, where the figures would be ritually bathed, dressed, and adorned with flowers. Their presence in a household altar affirmed the moral and spiritual values of the Rāmāyaṇa, offering devotees a direct connection to the divine drama of the gods.