Mahishasuramadhini Cave

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This is a East facing cave and the most beautiful cave after Varaha Cave which is West facing. This cave is well maintained, and this is underneath the old lighthouse. If you are coming from Decent of Ganges via road, then you enter the gates after taking the pathway to the old lighthouse it will be on the right side. The reason this supposed to be one among the decorated caves is that the depiction on the left and right panels of this cave also the detailing on the panel is too good.

As you enter the cave on to your left side you get to see the below image of reclining Vishnu who is in a sleeping position with his eyes closed on top of Ananta five headed snake.

Above the naval of Vishnu in flying mode is Panchajanya who is in fat and next female who is flying is Kaumodaki. 
Beneath Vishnu is Sudarsan & Vainetya Garuda, the women in folded arms is Bhudevi.

The two people who are standing at the foot of Vishnu are Madhu & Kaitabha who are approaching Vishnu with a club in their hand. 

Bhudevi with folded arms towards Vishnu.

Below is the panel which brings the name for this case, Mahishaasuramadhini. 
This panel needs to be divided by drawing a center line and divide it in to Left & Right wing.
In this panel on to your left you get to learn that Goddess Durga was given powers by 3 Gods Bramma, Vishnu, Shiva to destroy the demon Asura. Here you can see Durga with 4+4 arms with the weapons provided by 3 Gods. You can also see bootha ganas flying with their respective weapons.
On the right side you can get to see Asura just retreating as he gets to know that he is losing the battle. Under the Asure one guy falls dead, one poor guy has lost his torso mid-way, kindly note the lady with the dagger such was the detailing given to her we are not sure whether it is her 6 pack or the armor wear. The artist has beautifully captured Goddess Durga with her armor on the lion and she just let go off the arrow from her bow. 

In relevance to the above panel, you get to see the same in Tiger caves where the Asura is defeated and the lion mauling the boar headed and he is begging for mercy, but the above panel is just retreating. 
The below panel is not in Mamallapuram it is in Salluvankupam a.k.a Tiger Caves.

Somaskanda [S-Shiva, Oma - Parvathy, Skanda - Muruga] occupies the central part of the cave. Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvathy seated on a throne with their legs rested on the bull, with Lord Muruga sitting on the left lap of Goddess Parvathy. Bramma is seen on top of Lord Shiva [on top of right shoulder] and Lord Vishnu on the right.
For the onlookers we might have a question as why there are is only 3 people in this Godly Family? rather it should be 4. In this image you cannot see Lord Ganesha, the reason is that down south for Pallavas they were not aware of Lord Ganesha till the 8th century, when these caves were built it was around the 7th Century. There "could" have been a lingam in the center thats why there is a big hole or not sure what was there.

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