Arjuna's Penance
It is not a coincidence that the state of Tamil Nadu is full of everything that delights travelers from across the globe. It is such a paradise that comes up to the expectations of even history lovers offering the sight of some of the most reputed heritage attractions.
Arjuna’s Penance which is one of the top heritage sites in Tamil Nadu is the World’s largest bas-relief located in Mahabalipuram. Touching the height of 43 feet, Arjuna Penance along with Descent of Ganges is a group of monuments that were shaped on two large boulder stones joined together and portrays 100 types of figures of birds, animals, gods, and goddess on it.
If we go by the legend, this is the same place where Arjuna, one of the five Pandavas from Mahabharata did penance to the Supreme being, Lord Shiva to attain his powerful weapon, a bow. Pleased by the worship of Arjuna, the Lord blessed him with the weapon which helped Arjuna to come out as a winner in the Mahabharata war. Talking about the Descent of the Ganges that is etched close to this tourist attraction it is believed that the revered Sage Bhagiratha offered prayers to the divine Lord Shiva by standing on one leg.
The Sage by preaching to the Lord was to attain a change in the route of the holy Ganga River and to make it flow at this place. Content by Sage’s devotion the Lord changed the route of the holy river.
Why is this place popular?
Arjuna’s Penance, Mahabalipuram is a magnificent structure carved out in rocks that depicts the mythological characters and their stories. This stonework masterpiece is one of India’s greatest ancient artworks that has been well preserved by the authorities.
The structure was built by the Pallava King, Narasimha Varma, who was referred to as the ‘Ocean of the Arts’ in the 7th Century. To date, of all the rock monuments that have been exhumed, Arjuna’s Penance, Mahabalipuram is one of the top stone structures made from granite rock boulders.
Mythologically, the story goes such that Arjuna was practicing penance to get Lord Shiva’s weapon which he needed to fight the Mahabharata war. He strongly believed that if you have the will for self-morti?cation, the universe showers its abundant blessing; and rightly so, Arjuna was given the ‘weapon’.
Another belief goes that the subject of this massive structure is the ‘Descent of the Ganges’. It was formed when Bhagiratha o?ered his prayers to Lord Shiva and was practicing penance to urge the river Ganga to ?owing on the Earth. However, there is no proper proof of any of these facts, and continues to be a mystery.
