Mountain Scene

Arjuna's Penance, Mamallapuram

The upper left of the relief depicts a mountain setting with grazing animals, lions, humans, and celestials, including (photo left) a pair of bird-like kinnaras. Shiva attended by his hosts (ganas) is visible at the far right of the photo. The mountain represents Shiva's abode in the Himalayas, where the worlds of gods, humans, and animals intermingle.