Time, full moon day, season all in stone; spruced up Pallava

The ancient Mamallapuram monuments, spruced up ahead of this week's Indo-China summit, is a quiet cue to the artistic genius of Pallava era artisans, who created poetry in stone to bring alive several ideas like the time of the day, long before the clock was invented.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to visit the over 1,000-year-old monuments, a deeper study of the scintillating sculptures brings out the brilliance of its creators.

On the Mamallapuram monuments, noted archaeologist T Satyamurthy said "the Pallava artisans excelled all their counterparts anywhere else."
"It is unique in many respects, including the selection of the rock for such execution."
"The group of elephants so faithfully true to nature are a real masterpiece, enhancing the charm of this wonderful carving."
Below them are their disciples, one of them carrying water in a pot on his shoulder, another wringing out water from a wet cloth and a third engaged in "suryopasthana."
"The event thus took place on full moon day of Vasanta ritu during uttaryana at noon and Lord Shiva granted boon to Arjuna on this day and time, which is considered auspicious."