Madalasa and Ratudhvaja

This print illustrates a poignant moment from the Markandeya Purana, a key Hindu text. The story begins with the semidivine Gandharva king Vishwavasu and his beautiful daughter Madalasa. The demon Paatalketu, taken by her looks, abducts Madalasa to his kingdom of Paatal Loka, where she rejects his advances. The hero Ratudhvaja eventually reaches Paatal Loka, and after a protracted battle, slays Paatalketu and releases Madalasa from captivity. Ravi Varma chose to depict the events after the rescue, but before the couple’s marriage. Here, Ratudhvaja courts the princess, who is accompanied by a female chaperone. She gestures as if introducing the pair for the first time. This romanticized rendering, with the participants in contemporary dress, is based on the artist’s 1895 oil painting.