Color stood out especially--the intense reds and yellows of women’s clothing and offerings of flowers.

The huge rock carvings at Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu were awe-inspiring, with images of Durga slaying Mahisha the Bufffalo Demon (upper right of painting), and Arjuna’s Penance where the Ganges is shown descending to earth, flowing over a group of nagas (down right half of painting).

I was also moved by a black statue of Kali with flower garlands (left center), and Krishna dancing on the head of the serpent Kaliya (below center; close-up to left).

There are many wonderful animal images carved on this massive rock face including this cat meditating in a yoga pose while mice crowd around in admiration (lower right of painting; close-up, above right).