A concord of lexeme on the rocks of history
Arjuna's Penance, perhaps the world's largest bas-relief, is the universe itself in stone, throbbing with a vastness of conception. Legend has it that King Bhagiratha had to bring down to earth the celestial Ganga to sanctify and redeem the cursed souls of his ancestors. But the river in its torrential spree would deluge the earth, and so he had to undergo a penance to propitiate Shiva who finally received the flood in his matted locks and let it flow down. This was a sight for the world's creatures to see and they gathered round. The cleft in the rock depicts the descent of Ganga, a theory supported by the ruins of a stone water tank on the hill. There is a forest with tribal people and all forms of fauna, just as they would appear in their habitat. Women clothed in an aura of amazing grace, a rich inner beauty transfiguring the plainest of them. The whole scene has a dimension of humor too! Juxtapositioned against the ascetic is a cat doing rigorous penance too, eyes firmly shut, even to the delectable mice scampering around within easy reach.
Arjuna's Penance is located in Mamallapuram or Mahaballipuram !
Mamallapuram is 60 kms from Chennai and connected by a good road that runs along the coast. It is also connected to Chengalpattu via Tirukkalukunram. There are bus services to Mamallapuram from Chennai and Chengalpattu. The nearest railway station is Chengalpattu while Chennai is the closest airport. Regular tourist coaches ply every day. Consult Tourism Office for timings.
Arjuna's Penance, perhaps the world's largest bas-relief, is the universe itself in stone, throbbing with a vastness of conception. Legend has it that King Bhagiratha had to bring down to earth the celestial Ganga to sanctify and redeem the cursed souls of his ancestors. But the river in its torrential spree would deluge the earth, and so he had to undergo a penance to propitiate Shiva who finally received the flood in his matted locks and let it flow down. This was a sight for the world's creatures to see and they gathered round. The cleft in the rock depicts the descent of Ganga, a theory supported by the ruins of a stone water tank on the hill. There is a forest with tribal people and all forms of fauna, just as they would appear in their habitat. Women clothed in an aura of amazing grace, a rich inner beauty transfiguring the plainest of them. The whole scene has a dimension of humor too! Juxtapositioned against the ascetic is a cat doing rigorous penance too, eyes firmly shut, even to the delectable mice scampering around within easy reach.
Arjuna's Penance is located in Mamallapuram or Mahaballipuram !
Mamallapuram is 60 kms from Chennai and connected by a good road that runs along the coast. It is also connected to Chengalpattu via Tirukkalukunram. There are bus services to Mamallapuram from Chennai and Chengalpattu. The nearest railway station is Chengalpattu while Chennai is the closest airport. Regular tourist coaches ply every day. Consult Tourism Office for timings.
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