*The entrance of an excavated Hindoo Temple, at Mavalipuram, on the coast of Coromandel; by Thomas and William Daniell, 1799* (BL)

*The rock sculpture of Arjuna’s Penance, Mahabalipuram, by John Gantz, c.1825* (BL)

"Bas-relief on the rocks in Mahabalipour," by H. Clerget, from 'Le Tour du Monde', 1869

Source: ebay, Aug. 2008

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A book illustration, 1892

Source: ebay, June 2009

Descent of the Ganges, Mamallapuram, c.630

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/oochappan/70446547/
(downloaded Mar. 2007)

Bhagiratha does penance

Bhagiratha does penance outside his hermitage (smaller detail)

A Naga looks on admiringly

Two elephants watch him

Sages and lions also stand by

Nearby, a sculptured family of monkeys groom each other at their ease

Source for the above seven images of particular details of the Descent: Courtesy of Prof. Frederick Asher, Univ. of Minnesota, October 1999

A closeup of the elephants

Source: http://www.imagesoftheworld.org/India/India052.jpg
(downloaded May 2004)

*A large closeup of the central cleft of the bas-relief*

Source: http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/india/mamallapuram/ap05.html
(downloaded Nov. 2004)

Two goats enjoy a visit

Source: http://homepage.mac.com/ian_mcall/South_Asia/PhotoAlbum35.html
(downloaded Oct. 2005)

Another view: "The descent of the Ganges" into Shiva's tangled hair, as depicted by Raja Ravi Varma's studio, c.1910-20

Source: ebay, Jan. 2006