Arjuna/Bhagiratha

Arjuna's Penance, Mamallapuram

In the center of the photo, four-armed Shiva looks on approvingly, as the hero of the story (Arjuna, or Bhagiratha) performs a difficult and painful yoga posture. The central figures are surrounded by Shiva's followers (ganas) at photo left, kinnaras at photo upper left, flying celestials at photo lower right and upper center, and birds at photo upper right.