Bas-relief - Mahabalipuram
After an exciting visit to the Shore Temple, you can start your discovery of the most famous of the bas-reliefs- the immense Arjuna’s Penance. It is a huge 88 feet long and 30 feet high frieze, crammed with birds, beasts, mythological figures including life-size elephants. The entire frieze has been sculpted across a whale-back shaped rock. It was sculpted during the reign of King Narasimhavarman (AD 630-670).
Archeologists differ about the theme of the frieze. Some believe that it depicts a Mahabharata story where a mortal Arjuna does penance to lord Shiva for having killed his fellow humans during the war. Others are of the view that it tells the story of Ganga River coming down to the earth. One can see lord Shiva letting the flood waters flow through his hair.
Either ways, the panel is a brilliant piece of artistry with some realistic and humorous touches. For instance, a deer scratching its face with its hoof and an emaciated hermit doing penance while standing on one foot mocked by a cat who strikes a similar pose.
The nearby hillside is dotted with eight mandapams-shallow rock-cut cave temples. Each temple is sculpted with five bas-reliefs depicting scenes from hindu mythology- a couple of these have been left unfinished. One of the finest is the Krishna Mandapam. The bas-relief here depicts the story of Krishna using an umbrella to save shepherds and animals from the wrath of Indra, the Rain god. To the left of the penance relief, you can climb up the Hill to discover several other scattered Mandapams and Krishna’s Butterball, a massive boulder precariously balanced on the hill’s slope.
In the rear of the hill is the tall lighthouse. You can have a fantastic view of the entire region from its top. Below the lighthouse is Mahishasura Mardhini Cave which has exquisitely beautiful reliefs. In one of these, lord Vishnu is seen sleeping over the coils of the serpent Adishesh.
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