The panels on the three sides have their own stories to narrate, which have been beautifully effected as full of emotions using dimensions and innovative sculpting techniques.

Gajendra Moksha Panel : The North side niche has a depiction of Gajendra-moksha, a devotional story mentioned in Puranas and other ancient texts, which describes the rescue of an elephant whose leg was trapped by a crocodile in a water body. In immense pain after having struggled with the crocodile but unable to set himself free, the elephant prayed to Lord Vishnu for help who appeared on the scene as a deliverer and rescued. In the depiction here however, we find a Naga with his wife instead of a crocodile.

Vishnu is depicted as seated over Garuda in flight with his wings as the Naga and his wife are seen in apologetic mode with folded hands asking for forgiveness from Vishnu. Above the panel are seen flying couples, one on either side with the males holding a crown, probably to honor Vishnu for this act of deliverance. The skilled Gupta artist has beautifully succeeded in bringing to life various emotions connected with the story in the panel. Even in the absence of modern pictography, the flying images beautifully well depicted as if being in real flight.

To be continued....