Photo 212/5(18)

Genre: Architectural Photography

View of the left-hand portion of the rock-cut sculpture known as Arjuna's Penance. Lyon's 'Notes to accompany a series of photographs prepared to illustrate the ancient architecture of Southern India' (Marion and Co., London, 1870), edited by James Fergusson, gives the following description of this photograph: '423 and 424 - Although unfinished, like everything else at Mahavellipore, and of no extraordinary antiquity, this bas-relief is one of the most remarkable pieces of sculpture to be found in India. There is nothing known which suffices to fix its date with certainty; but there is every probability that this, as well as all the rock-cut temples here, belong to the twelfth or thirteenth centuries. They seem all to have been undertaken at once by some enthusiastic Rajah, or by people under some strong religious impulse, and all stopped simultaneously, either by his death or some catastrophe or which we have no record beyond such legends as that just recounted. Owing to the upper part of the principal figure having been in full relief, and consequently easily destroyed, it has been knocked away, which has hitherto prevented the meaning of the subject being perceived. Looking at the centre, however, between the two rocks, the tail of a great serpent will be perceived, and in 424 the outline of his snake-hood (seven-headed) can still be traced. Below him, his wife the Nagni, is still perfect, with a three-headed snake-hood, and on her right, a male and female figure with the same adornment. It is towards these central figures that all the men, women, and beasts in both sections are turned in adoration. The lower part of 423 [print 17] is occupied by two elephants with their young ones, sculptured as only Indian artists can represent the wisest of beasts. Above these are men and women, dwarfs, harpies, - half human, half birds, lions, tigers, monkeys, birds, and in fact, what is meant for types of all created things. The lower part of 424 was reserved for the smaller animals, such as deer, antelope, rabbits, etc.; above them, the same class of human and semi-human beings as on the other side, bulled here by a four-armed god, but whether Shiva or Vishnu, is by no means clear; his emblems are defaced and cannot be distinguished, but most probably it is the former. In front of him is a Yogi standing on one foot, and below him, a small temple with an image, whose attributes unfortunately cannot be made out. Beside the temple is a priest reading, and in front, three figures with their heads knocked off, looking outwards. No worship is addressed to the shrine or the god above, but are all turned to the centre, where the snake-god originally stood in all his glory. 425 [print 19] - Immediately adjoining the great bas-relief, is a cave with six-pillared portico in front. From the very attenuated form of its pillars, it will at once be perceived how much more modern it is than the western caves ; yet it seems to be part of, and belonging to the same composition as the bas-relief to which it is attached. There are no sculptures inside, but a lingam and a long inscription, which if carefully copied, might go far to settle the date, if not from its contents, at least from the form of its characters.'