The Sanskrit word “Hatth” means a persistent severe, sometimes unreasonable demand for a boon or fulfillment of a wish which to the giver is difficult to fulfill or grant at that particular moment.

Here the scene is of a typical situation of “Streehatth” wherein Kaikeyi (foster mother of Ram) demands the fulfillment of 2 boons previously granted to her by her husband King Dasharath on saving his life in a battle. As in this Indian Epic “Ramayana”, on hearing the news of the forthcoming coronation of Lord Ram the eldest of 4 sons of King Dasharath, from his senior queen “Kaushalya” his second queen Kaikeyi goes through a surge of envy, demanding that her son Bharat be made King instead and to secure his position Ram be given 14 years of exile to the forest. Otherwise a doting and loving mother to Ram, on impulse and instigation by her vile maid “Manthara” she becomes totally blinded and putting aside all reason, becomes the main cause for destruction shattering the entire peace and unity of the Royal family of Ayodhya. In the same story we hear that Sita (wife of Ram) refuses to be left behind in Ayodhya without her Lord and persistently requests him to allow her to come to the forest with him to discharge her duties as his wife. She is an epitome of a pious Hindu wife.

The lavish crystal palace in my painting represents the grandeur and luxuries within its walls. To uphold his father’s honor Lord Ram in a single fraction of a second abandons and forsakes the pleasures of the palace and his position as the crown prince of Ayodhya, and readies himself for the hard life in the forest. He is revered as “Maryada Purshttom” a person who always follows the righteous path in every situation in life and holding no malice in his heart, fulfilling his duties as an ideal son.

The location inspired by - Crystal Palace. Udaipur.