The Remains of Mahabalipuram

These carvings are a part of the remains found at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu and is called Arjuna’s Penance. These rock carvings show all the events that occurred during Arjuna’s penance where he prayed to Lord Shiva for his weapon.

There is another story that could also be a possible interpretation of these carvings. In this story, the sage Bhagiratha prays to Goddess Ganga in the form of the river Ganges to come down to earth. But, Lord Shiva had to give his consent to let her break her fall in his hair without which she would reach earth at a force that would be destructive to the planet. These carvings date back to the Pallava Dynasty and are more detailed than any other carvings found anywhere in India and are on a relief that is about 45 ft in height.