Arjuna’s penance is carved on the face of a rock, which forms a part of a huge whale-shaped rock. This rock is carved to represent a story from the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Arjuna, the epic hero performed a penance to please Lord Shiva to obtain the Pasupata weapon.

This excellent carved rock is a unique example of Indian art especially of Pallavas and one can see a series of rows of gods and goddesses, sages, celestial beings such as Nagas and animals are carved. Mahabalipuram, a World Heritage Site is situated on the Coromandal coast to the south of Chennai in Tamil Nadu state, India.