The Shangri Ramayana was painted in the Kullu Valley. What does ‘Shangri’ in its name refer to?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → The place of residence of a branch of the Kullu royal family
Option (1) A Kanda of the Ramayana illustrated in the set — Incorrect. The folios of the set come from Kandas such as the Ayodhya Kanda and the Bala Kanda; Shangri is not a Kanda.
Option (2) The name of the Kullu artist who painted the set — Incorrect. The set is believed to be the work of different sets of Kullu artists; Shangri is a place, not a painter.
Option (3) The place of residence of a branch of the Kullu royal family — Correct. The set takes its name from ‘Shangri’, the place of residence of a branch of the Kullu royal family, its patrons and former owners.
Option (4) A local variation of the Basohli kalam in Kullu — Incorrect. Local variations of the Basohli kalam arose as Basohli ateliers spread to Chamba and Kullu; the set’s name does not come from them.
NCERT (2026-27): “The Sanskrit epic, Ramayana, was one of the favourite texts of the hill artists at Basohli, as well as, Kullu. This set derives its name from ‘Shangri’, the place of residence of a branch of the Kullu royal family, patrons and formerly possessors of this set. These works of Kullu artists were influenced in varying degrees by the styles of Basohli and Bilaspur.” |