Descent of the Ganges (Mahabalipuram)

Coordinates: 12°37′03″N 80°11′56″E / 12.61750°N 80.19889°E / 12.61750; 80.19889
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Descent of the Ganges
Mahabalipuram, Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu, India
Part ofMain complex of Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
CriteriaCultural: (i), (ii), (iii), (vi)
Reference249-001
Inscription1984 (8th Session)
Coordinates12°37′03″N 80°11′56″E / 12.61750°N 80.19889°E / 12.61750; 80.19889
Descent of the Ganges (Mahabalipuram) is located in Tamil Nadu
Descent of the Ganges (Mahabalipuram)
Location of Descent of the Ganges in Tamil Nadu
Descent of the Ganges (Mahabalipuram) is located in India
Descent of the Ganges (Mahabalipuram)

Descent of the Ganges, known locally as Arjuna's Penance,

Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram that were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.[6]

Geography

The Arjuna relief is in the centre of Mahabalipuram, facing the sea at a short distance from the shores of the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal where the

Chengalpet.[7]

History

The relief was created to celebrate the victory of

Pallavas is continued by the descendants of sculptors of that period, who are now integrated into the present town's culture.[11]

Layout

The relief faces east. It was created on two large boulders of pink

Ganges River. It cascaded over the cleft and the relief to give the impression of the Ganga descending from the head tied dreads of Shiva. This scene was created during festive occasions and the presence of a brick masonry cistern at the top of the cleft to release water attests to its location at the site. The relief is an ensemble of over a hundred figures (146 is also mentioned) of gods, people, half-humans and animals.[4][5][13][14][15]

Panoramic view of the Descent of the Ganges relief

Subject

A panel of carvings viewed by women
alapini vina
and chime cymbals.

The sculptures carved in the natural fissure that divides the cliff not only depict the cosmic event of

Alapini vina) while the female Kinnara is holding a cymbal. Shiva is carved in front of the river (to the right of the cleft) in a standing posture with Bhagiratha, the sage, standing on one leg offering him prayers to check the force of the Ganga as she descends to earth. Shiva is also shown with a weapon which is interpreted as Pashupati, which he gave to Arjuna.[5] The ganas shown in the carvings represent the people who have spent their entire lives in dedication to Shiva, and are blessed with the boon to remain close to Shiva for all time to come. Carvings of the divine nagas shown swimming in the river, as Ganga descends from the heavens, are also in anthropomorphic form of a serpent and human, which has been a traditional style from ancient times in Indic art. They are believed to denote fertility and protective forces of nature. They are seen not only in the middle of the panel facing the cleft, which represents the river, but also at the top of the panel at the entry of water over the channel, marking the prevalence of naga worship in Hindu religious beliefs.[5][18]

Detailing of sculptures showing the Vishnu temple to the right of the cleft

It is also said that the relief in one unity is the early Indic artist's concept of "sublime continuity in all living things". The elephants shown in reliefs are unique in the fact that the detailing includes the baby elephants behind the life-size elephants. Another interesting depiction is of a deer scratching its nose.[18] The elephants represent a herd moving towards the river to drink water. The male elephant carving precedes that of its female partner. Three baby elephants with the male elephant and two babies with the female elephant are also carved in the panel.[5]

Sun, on the left and Moon on the right side are also depicted on the top part of the panel. A kim-purusha, meaning a dwarf with elongated ears and wearing a cap on his head and beating a drum is also seen in the panel.[5]

In the upper part of the panel, Himalayas are shown which corroborates the theory of the panel representing the descent of the Ganges. Wild lions are also shown with large mane and also rams which are interpreted as representing the Himalayan habitat.[5] On the left side of the upper panel, carvings of divinities and celestial couples moving towards the river are seen. A few animals, lions and monkeys are also carved in this part. Two pairs of Kinnaras and three pairs of celestial couples are shown flying in the air approaching the river (cleft). Hunters and hunting scenes are part of this part of the panel; a hunter with a bow, two hunters hiding under trees to hunt, a lion about to attack two hunters are some of the parts of forest scenes carved on the panel. Another scene below is of a few monkeys, and a carving of a lion in his den with a few deer in front of it. Carvings of hunters carrying a pitcher and another carrying the hunted animals are also seen.[5]

Another prominent scene is that of a temple to the right of the cleft at the lower end of the panel. This temple is simple and small and has Vishnu as the deity carved within it. The temple roof is patterned on the style of Draupadi Ratha with a square curvilinear dome type of tower. However, the top is flat and is fitted with a stupi, with a kudu in the centre. Corners are decorated with flower designs. The cornices are also seen with kudus carved with human faces inside. In the floor above the cornice, lion motifs are carved. A square supports the domed roof. A sage is seen sitting in front of the temple giving sermons to his students. In the seat below this scene, a lion in his den and below this a pair of deer are carved. A tortoise is shown next to the temple indicative of water in the near vicinity.[5]

Interpretations

Relief detail

In one interpretation, a figure in the relief who is standing on one leg is said to be

Pasupata, Shiva's most powerful weapon. In this event, asuras (demons) sent a boar to kill Arjuna. Then Shiva appeared on the scene to protect Arjuna assuming the form of kirata (hunter). Both Arjuna and Shiva shot arrows at the boar and the boar was killed; both claimed credit for slaying it and a fight ensued between the two in which Shiva won. He then revealed his true self to Arjuna and blessed him and gave him the weapon for which Arjuna is shown performing the penance.[4][12][17]

The relief is carved on two large boulders with a cleft. Above the cleft was a collecting pool, and at one time, water may have flowed along the cleft. Figures in the cleft in the rock are covered with nagas (serpent deities), in anjali posture. The river is said to represent Ganga or the River Ganges emerging from Shiva's head. This provides the basis for an alternative interpretation of the mural. Rather than Arjuna, the figure performing austerities is said to be Bhagiratha. Bhagiratha is said to have performed austerities so that Ganga might descend to earth and wash over the ashes of his relatives, releasing them from their sins. To break Ganga's fall from heaven to earth, she falls onto Shiva's hair, and is divided into many streams by his tresses; this miraculous event is shown in the form of sculptures on the boulders being watched by the animals and human beings.[4][12]

Another interpretation for the yogi doing penance on one leg is that it is a depiction of Bhagiratha doing severe penance to bring down the Ganges to earth to usher prosperity and happiness to the people. The nagas carved in the cleft represent fecundity and wealth. Shiva and other gods are shown blessing the saint. The scene is further accentuated with carvings of kings, sages, artists and animals.[17]

One more interpretation of the events seen in another part of the panel is that of a cat standing on one leg (apparently as an austerity), and perhaps an iconic figure in the relief. It is interpreted as relating to the Panchatantra story of an ascetic. It denotes the hare luring a bird to come close so that she could she catch and devour it. The artist has brought out the expression on the cat's face, its motives clearly visible.[5][14][18]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Descent of the Ganges.

References

  1. ISBN 978-1-4053-8847-4
    .
  2. ^ "Incredible India | Arjuna's Penance". www.incredibleindia.org. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  3. ^ "The Descent of the Ganges – Story of Bhagirata". indiantemples.com. Retrieved 3 March 2007.
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-81-317-1120-0
    . Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Mamallapuram – The Workshop of Pallavas – Part IV". Open Air Bas-Reliefs. Puratatva.com. Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  6. ^ a b c "Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram". UNESCO. Retrieved 3 March 2007.
  7. ISBN 978-81-206-0151-2
    . Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  8. ^
    ISBN 978-0-470-64580-2
    . Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  9. ^ India – UNESCO World Heritage Centre
  10. ^ "A monumental effort". Front Line. Vol. 20, no. 23. 8 November 2003. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  11. ISBN 978-1-74179-155-6
    . Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  12. ^ a b c "Sculpture of the descent of the Ganges, Mamallapuram". Online Gallery of British Library. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  13. ^ "A bas-relief gone dry at Mamallapuram". The Hindu. 6 December 2012. Archived from the original on 11 January 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  14. ^ a b c "Arjuna's Penance". Lonely Planet.com. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  15. ^ "Mahabalipuram". UCLA Education, South Asia. Archived from the original on 6 October 1999. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  16. ^ "Advisory body evaluation" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  17. ^
    ISBN 978-3-8297-6622-7
    . Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  18. ^ a b c "Mamallapuram". Frontline: India’s National Magazine from the publishers of The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2013.

External links

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