Decent of the Ganges a.k.a Arjuna's Penance

 

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Decent of Ganges also knows as Arjuna's Penance is the most prominent attraction after the shore temple, 5 rathas.

This is the largest displaying panel, and this is not the finished one. If you pay close attention on the left side of the image there are still more things to be sculpted. On the right side we can see till the bottom it is filled with animals, whereas on the left side it is completely blank and in the far end we can see 4 to six squares. 

Many call it as Arjuna's penance where he stands on one leg does the penance to obtain Pasupatha weapon from Lord Shiva. 

As per the below image many say that it is Arjuna who is standing on one leg obtain the Pasupatha weapon from Lord Siva so that Pancha Pandavas can defeat the Kauravas.

Some argue this is Arjuna's Penance is also somewhat believable but not entirely. The reason this should be called as Decent of Ganges is that the center piece where it divides the rock in to two and the top is made as if the water accumulates and pours from the top. When Lord Shiva gave the water from Ganges to be flowed via him by answering the prayers of King Bhagiratha.

Below image is about male elephant, female elephant with their calfs' approaching peacefully to the center. The sculptor has beautifully captured the female elephant walking with one leg in the front up from the ground which tells nothing but the heard is in move. Underneath the male elephant you can see the calfs' playing. On top you can see the Gandharva couples flying.

Below is a sage fasting and praying to the deity of Lord Vishnu inside a small shrine. Some say it is Arjuna who is in tired mode because of fasting and praying. To me personally i do not think so that way, this could have been a portrait of an sage fasting and praying. 

In the below image you can see from left to right hunters with daggers, farmer with a pot on his left shoulder. There is a monkey with its left hand eating something, i can see a big lizard like stuff, beneath them you can see a cat could be lioness waiting to attack the deer.

In the below image we can see a cat imitating the pose of king Bhagiratha, not sure why this particular stuff was kept what is the point? was the animal was also into penance of something or just to bring a lighter note. There should be some significance that the sculptor would have liked the onlookers to have. 

In the below image we can see roosters, hens, we can see Gandharva couples flying, then there is a couple who has upper body of human, and the below half is bird possible it could be the body a peacock. When all are flying you can see a couple sitting on a ledge which tells that they do not possess super huma qualities, yet they have been brought in by the sculptor to show that there were humans as well and the clear difference was shown by the sculptor so beautifully. 

As per the below image we can see a sage giving the similar pose of king Bhagirath with two arms locked up in the air and the other sage is bowing towards Naga God or water reaching the bottom. There are 2 people, one with a pot on the left shoulder and the other one nt sure what is he carrying. 

To conclude in my view this cannot be Arjuna's Penance as Arjuna got the boon of Pasupatha weapon after having a tussle with Lord Shiva who disguised himself as a hunter went in hand-to-hand combat with Arjuna who later realized that he can't defeat the hunter and that he is fighting with Lord Shiva. 

Below is the image which is there in Kailashanathar Tempe in Kanchipuram which will vouch the above story of Lord Shiva in combat mode with Arjuna.

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