Arjuna's Penance

History

Arjuna's Penance, carved in the 7th century on a 30-metre granite boulder at Mahabalipuram, is a monumental relief depicting the descent of the Ganges from the Himalayas to the earth. Hundreds of figures — gods, animals, and a famous pair of life-sized elephants — animate the stone, with a natural cleft representing the sacred river. It is one of the masterpieces of Indian rock art.