English: Arjuna, or Bhagiratha. Arjuna's Penance, Mamallapuram
The hero of the story is performing a difficult and painful yoga posture: standing one-legged, arms above his head. Such positions had to be held, without moving, for great lengths of time;
even years, according to the legends. His protruding rib-cage
indicates the austerity of self-starvation.
To the left, four-armed Shiva looks on approvingly, his left hand extended in varadra mudra, the gesture of granting a blessing. At lower left, an antelope bounds from ledge to ledge. The scene includes flying celestials, a gana below Shiva's hand, and a pair of birds near Arjuna's left elbow.