Ravana Shakes Mt. Kailasa

Cave 29, Ellora

Cave 29 dates, like Cave 21, to the late 6th century. This affords an opportunity for comparison, between the present Ravana sculpture and that of Cave 21. For example, notice that Ravana here is facing backwards, and that Shiva is copping a feel. Is it too far-fetched to identify Mars touching the breast of Venus with Shiva touching the breast of Parvati, along the opposite ends of the Silk Road? Some things are truly cultural universals.