| Mahabalipuram |
| Tamil is also the source for the others neighboring Dravidian
languages such as Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Thulu. |
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| On the Coromandel Coast, Mahabalipuram has many beautiful
places to watch and many beautiful sceneries, ancient monuments, historic
temples for their unique sculptures, the culture and tradition of the natives.
Mahabalipuram was a 7th century port city of the South Indian dynasty of the
Pallavas around 60 km south from the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu. |
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| In a fierce battle king Mahabali a very rude cruel king reined
this place was killed by Lord Vishnu and the place was named after the dead,
arrogant kind Mahabali. |
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| The best period of their rule was between 650 and 750 AD and
this period was called the Golden Age of the pallavas after the decline of the
Gupta Dynasty. The pallavas were very powerful. Great poets, dramatists,
artists, artisans, scholars and saints emerged during the rule of the pallavas. |
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| Arjuna's Rath |
| ARJUNA'S RATH is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has a small
portico and carved pillar stones. Carvings of gods and humans are present on the
outer wall of the temple. Lord Vishnu and a Garuda on one panel and the other
panel with a couple are one of the main beautiful carvings. Many poets have
praised these beautiful carvings in their poems. |
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| Arjuna's penance |
| One of the most famous stone carvings at Mahabalipuram is the
Arjuna's penance. The Arjuna�s penance is 31m long and 9m high and the biggest
open-air rock canvas in the world. Showing the most endearing and natural
renditions of animals especially the elephants and monkeys the surface of the
rock has detailed carvings. Arjuna's penance, is named after Arjuna. |
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| Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers and a consummate archer, is
shown standing on one leg, doing penance to obtain a boon from Lord Shiva. The
sculpture shows Arjuna undertaking a penance to obtain a rare weapon against his
enemies and the River Ganges's descent to earth. Are many schools of thoughts
over the theme of Arjuna's penance. Arjuna penance remains one of the most
beautifully carved structures at Mahabalipuram. 100 figures of gods and semi
divine creatures, birds and beasts, man and saint are present in Arjuna's
Penance. |
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| A four-armed deity, probably Shiva is very fine sculpture work
and on either side of it are flying figures of Gods and below are some
sculptures of animals of which giant elephants are the most impressive. A forest
with tribal people and all forms of animal life is also a fine art work. |
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