The painting depicts a scene from the Ramayana where Jambavan, the King of the Bears, greets Hanuman in Sugriva’s monkey kingdom. The epic tale relates how Rama’s wife Sita is abducted by Ravana, the king of the rakshasas, and taken to Lanka. Rama and Hanuman searched for her and learned that she had been taken to Lanka. They request the help of Jambavan, a very powerful leader, who assembles his loyal army to help Rama. His primary role is to encourage Hanuman to cross the One Hundred Yojana Sea and go to Lanka to find Sita. The scene appears to be the moment when Hanuman arrives in Sugriva’s kingdom and greets Jambavan on the banks of the ferocious sea. The monkey army gather behind them to assist in the battle to free Sita.
