Mathew S Thomas
7th- 8th century bas-relief @ Mahishasuramardini Cave Temple, Location - Mada Koil St, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu 603104, India.
Anantasayi Panel in Mahishasuramardini Cave Temple, Mahabalipuram
On the southern face of the cave, there is a panel of Vishnu in an Anantasayana mudra, a reclining posture, lying on the bed of a serpent. He is shown with two hands holding the coil of the five-headed serpent known as Adisesha, which forms a cover over Vishbu's head. Madhu and Kaitabha, the two demons, are carved near Vishnu's feet in an attacking mode, armed with a gada (mace). The demons are in a position of retreat, as Adisesha hisses at them with flames emerging from its hoods. Vishnu, unconcerned, is patting Adisesha to pacify him. Also shown in the panel are the two ganas (dwarfs). Dwarfs are Vishnu's ayudhapurushas (as his personified weapons); the male gana is known as shankha or Panchajanya, and the female gana is Vishnu's gada Kaumodaki. Also seen in the panel, at its lower end, are three figures; his chakra (discus) is Sudarshana in ayudha-purusha form, Nandaka on the right is his khadga (sword), and the female figure is Bhudevi, also as ayudha-purusha.
The Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram is a collection of 7th- and 8th-century CE religious monuments in the coastal resort town of Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, India and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, about 60 kilometres (37 mi) south of Chennai.
The site has 40 ancient monuments and Hindu temples,[4] including one of the largest open-air rock reliefs in the world. ( FROM WIKIPEDIA)
7th- 8th century bas-relief @ Mahishasuramardini Cave Temple, Location - Mada Koil St, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu 603104, India.
Anantasayi Panel in Mahishasuramardini Cave Temple, Mahabalipuram
On the southern face of the cave, there is a panel of Vishnu in an Anantasayana mudra, a reclining posture, lying on the bed of a serpent. He is shown with two hands holding the coil of the five-headed serpent known as Adisesha, which forms a cover over Vishbu's head. Madhu and Kaitabha, the two demons, are carved near Vishnu's feet in an attacking mode, armed with a gada (mace). The demons are in a position of retreat, as Adisesha hisses at them with flames emerging from its hoods. Vishnu, unconcerned, is patting Adisesha to pacify him. Also shown in the panel are the two ganas (dwarfs). Dwarfs are Vishnu's ayudhapurushas (as his personified weapons); the male gana is known as shankha or Panchajanya, and the female gana is Vishnu's gada Kaumodaki. Also seen in the panel, at its lower end, are three figures; his chakra (discus) is Sudarshana in ayudha-purusha form, Nandaka on the right is his khadga (sword), and the female figure is Bhudevi, also as ayudha-purusha.
The Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram is a collection of 7th- and 8th-century CE religious monuments in the coastal resort town of Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, India and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, about 60 kilometres (37 mi) south of Chennai.
The site has 40 ancient monuments and Hindu temples,[4] including one of the largest open-air rock reliefs in the world. ( FROM WIKIPEDIA)