ARJUNA'S PENANCE (ARJUNA'S PENANCE)
Monument seen as the world's largest bas-relief with mythological scenes carved on the face of 2 blocks of stone
It is perhaps the largest bas-relief in the world (27 m x 9 m), a sort of universe in stone, of a truly grandiose conception. Mythological scenes are carved on the face of two enormous blocks of stone. The "Descent of the Ganges" or "Arjuna's Penance" has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. It is a unique representation in India, dating from the seventh century, probably commissioned to celebrate the supremacy of Hinduism over Buddhism. At that time, this type of work was usually depicted on wooden panels.
Legend has it that King Bhagiratha had to bring the heavenly Ganges down to earth in order to purify and redeem the cursed souls of his ancestors. But the river flooded the earth and the king had to undergo a penance to appease Shiva, who finally received the flood in the tangled curls of his hair and let it gently flow away. The crack in the rock symbolizes the descent of the Ganges, a theory that seems to be supported by the presence on the hill of the ruins of a stone water tank.
The sculptures are of great finesse and show both a deep respect for mythology, but also a lot of humor. The craftsmen (or artists) have taken advantage of the natural setting to create a scene of importance. The fracture between the rocks, entirely sculpted, shows Shiva distributing the waters of the Ganges. He is framed by deities and animals watching the scene with admiration. The kinnaras can be seen on the upper portion of the bas-relief. They are mythological figures half man half bird. The men are represented with a musical instrument unknown to this day and the women with cymbals. The nagas, half woman half snake, are represented bathing in the waters of the Ganges (in the fracture), but also at the mouth of the river at the top of the panel. The nagas represent the protective and fertile forces of nature. The ganas have a human face and are in mythology the faithful servants of Shiva. They are always represented in numbers. Bagiratha is depicted standing on one leg with his hands above his head. The temple carved on the left rock is dedicated to Vishnu.
The bas-relief of Arjuna reads like a vast comic book and the countless details carved on the 146 figures may take you a few hours to absorb.
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