Sugriva, anonymousAndhra Pradesh paintingca1720
Exact monkey king Sugriva, seated with crown, curled tail and fear-not hand gesture. Anonymous temple muralist ca1720; commissioned for French Jesuit missionaries according to museum. Museum1975.73 explicitly allows copying/modification/distribution; open-access policy specifies CC0. Ward donor credit is not artist attribution.
Overview
The Ramayana’s creation account identifies Sugriva as the Sun’s son and Vali’s brother. In his account of their rupture, he waits a year outside the cave where Vali pursues Mayavi. Blood and demonic cries convince him that his brother has died, so he blocks the entrance and returns; the court then makes him king.
Vali’s return brings an accusation of treachery, exile and the loss of Sugriva’s wife. Sugriva seeks Rama’s assistance, and their shared experience of separation underlies the alliance in this passage. Sugriva later leads the vanara host in Rama’s campaign; at the sea crossing he directs Hanuman and Angada to carry Rama and Lakshmana.
Origins & earliest records
South Asian epic religious narrative
Records & interpretation
Actual Griffith canto passages directly read in the hosted complete edition.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
The Ramayan of Valmiki
I.16; IV.9–10; VI.22; printed title-page edition range, not epic composition date.
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
Primary records and illustrations
The Ramayan of Valmiki, Griffith translation
Hosted complete edition, printed title-page range 1870–1874. I.16; IV.9–10; VI.22
Actual canto text read; speech attribution preserved. No creature illustration asserted.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Historical primary epic translationGriffith, Ramayan — I.16; IV.9–10; VI.22Research access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
Historical illustrationSugriva, anonymousAndhra Pradesh paintingca1720
Exact monkey king Sugriva, seated with crown, curled tail and fear-not hand gesture. Anonymous temple muralist ca1720; commissioned for French Jesuit missionaries according to museum. Museum1975.73 explicitly allows copying/modification/distribution; open-access policy specifies CC0. Ward donor credit is not artist attribution.
