Arjuna's PenanceTours | Hotels | Monuments In South india
Significance : One Of The Biggest Open-Air Rock Canvases In The World
Displays : 100 Figures Of Gods & Semi Divine Creatures, Birds & Beasts, Man & Saint
Arjuna's Penance A sculptured marvel at Mahabalipuram, often called "Arjuna's Penance", is an enormous relief made on two huge boulders. One of the biggest open-air rock canvases in the world,
this bas-relief is 31m long and 9m high. The surface of the rock has detailed carvings, showing the most endearing and natural renditions of animals.The Carvings On The Rock
Arjuna's Penance, the exquisitely sculpted scene, which presents mans view of the universe, has above 100 figures of gods and semi divine creatures, birds and beasts, man and saint. All these figures are carved either dealing with or approaching the fissure and generally with fingers folded in adoration.
The cleft in the rock depicts the descent of River Ganga (also identified as Ganges), introduced to earth by King Bhagiratha to redeem the cursed souls of his ancestors. For the left aspect of your fissure is often seen a very simple temple which is made up of a four-armed deity, possibly Shiva.
The fissure is sculptured with Nagas. Above the fissure and on possibly side of it are flying figures of Gods and below are some sculptures of animals of which big elephants are one of the most extraordinary and therefore are deemed to become the noblest creations from the human mind.
Arjuna, among the Pandava brothers along with a consummate archer, is demonstrated standing on one leg, performing penance to obtain a boon from Lord Shiva. There is a forest with tribal people and all types of animal existence, equally as they'd appear in their habitat.
Females are clothed in an aura of indescribable grace, a wealthy interior beauty transfiguring the plainest of them. The comic scene in the reduction will amuse website visitors exactly where a cat is standing performing penance, while huge and smaller rats are freely playing around the feline 'Tapaswi'.
A monkey family members has also been depicted within a extremely beautiful and attractive method. Inside the liveliness of each and every figure, one can recognize the extreme and naive enjoy of existence that characterizes the Buddhist artwork at Sanchi.
The Concept
Critics are divided more than the theme :
One college believes that it exhibits Arjuna undertaking a penance to obtain a rare weapon versus his enemies. One other believes that it depicts the legend in the River Ganges's descent to earth. In accordance with them, cleft appeared in the rock dividing the canvas in two, when Shiva responded to Bhagirathas penance.
Legend Connected With Arjuna's Penance
What is depicted here in the great open-air sculpture has a story behind it and has been the subject of difference of opinion among historians. The older theory is that it represents the penance of Arjuna during his exile in the Himalayas, in the hope that Shiva would part with his favourite weapon, the "Pashupatashatra", a magic staff or arrow. All generally accepts this popular interpretation.
Some historians like Ferguson, Burgess, Vogel, Touvean, Dubreine and Langhurst have not accepted the above theory but put forward different ones, which are given below
The view held by Ferguson and Burgess is that this sculpture represents "Serpent Worship" in ancient India and that "in the center on a projecting ledge between the two great masses of rock once stood the statue of the great Nagaraja who was the principal personage for whose honour this great bas-relief was designed".
A later theory supported by Langhurst and Dr. Coomaraswamy (also splet as Coomaraswami) is that it depicts the "Descent of the Ganges" from the height of Kailasha (also spelt as Kailash).
If this view is accepted, then the personage who has been identified, as Arjuna should be called "Bhagiratha" and this great sculpture as Bhagiratha's penance and not Arjuna's. But no local tradition exists which can serve as a real clue to its origin.
Places to stay in Tamilnadu
Accommodation is available at the hotels in Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram).
How to Get There
• Air
The nearest airport from Mahabalipuram is Chennai, located around 60-km away. One can get flights for almost all major destinations in India and abroad.
• Rail
The nearest railway station is Chengalpattu, around 29-km away from Mahabalipuram. Trains for Chennai and several other major cities in South India are available from here.
• Road
Mahabalipuram is connected by road to Chennai, Tirukkalikundram (Pakshithirtham), Kanchipuram (65-km), and Pondicherry.
