We say the main actors in the mallai penance panel. Now for a couple of light hearted posts.
921934
Towards the bottom of the panel, just in front of the majestic tusker, we see a very curious scene being enacted.
924932
You saw earlier the boon seeker ( arjuna / bagiratha) engaged in severe penance – standing up on one leg. Now you see a cat mimicking this and to add to the humor there are a couple of mice who seem to be in the act of worshiping the praying cat. What would be act 2 of this scene once the cat breaks his fast …breakfast.
929
Maybe we could still draw some lessons from this story
I’ve heard two interpretations about the
pray[ey]ing tomcat. Either it was waiting until the foolhardy mice were lulled, then it would pounce; or it was a sincere sannyasi, ignoring
the ‘dinner’ at its feet.