Decapitation scene

Pallava, late 7th century AD
Varaha Cave Temple, Mamallapuram

From the same cave temple as Varaha on the previous page, comes this scene in which a devotee of Durga offers up his head to the bloodthirsty goddess (compare the very similar scene from Draupadi Ratha). A greater contrast in mood and style between this and the Varaha sculpture (previous page) could scarcely be imagined.