Arjuna's Penance, an enormous relief made on two huge boulders, is the universe itself in stone. This colossus of art, 27 metres long and 9 metres high, is perhaps the world's largest bas-relief. The crack in the rock depicts the descent of the Ganga, brought to earth by King Bhagiratha to redeem the cursed souls of his ancestors. The two large elephants are remarkable for their artistry, and so are the scenes from the Panchatantra. There is a forest with tribal people and all forms of animal life , just as they would appear in their habitat . Women are clothed in an aura of inexpressible grace, a rich inner beauty transfiguring the plainest of them. The whole scene has a delicate edge of humour. Juxtaposed against the ascetic is a cat doing rigorous penance too, eyes firmly shut, even to the delectable mice scampering around within easy reach.
