This rare and evocative lithographic postcard by Raja Ravi Varma captures one of the most sacred and celebrated episodes from the Ramayana — the divine marriage of Lord Rama and Sita. Set amidst an elaborately adorned temple interior, the scene shows Rama tying the sacred knot, surrounded by kings, queens, sages, and witnesses, each rendered with vivid emotion and classical elegance.
Through the work of Ravi Varma Press, this image was circulated widely across India as a postcard, bringing mythological imagery out of palaces and temples and into the hands of ordinary people. The warm, golden palette and intricate detailing of costumes and expressions reflect Ravi Varma’s signature style — a fusion of European realism and Indian spiritual narrative.
This postcard not only represents a moment of sacred union, but also stands as a symbol of India’s visual renaissance in the early 20th century — when printed art became a vehicle for devotion, identity, and pride.
“He brought the gods home.” — A saying often attributed to Ravi Varma’s revolutionary contribution to Indian art.
