Mahabalipuram, a world heritage site, holds an important place in the art history of India. Its temples and sculptures are not only some of the earliest in this region but also significant in variety and elegance. The entire gamut of temple architecture you can see within walking distance; the cave-temples, the monoliths, structural temples, and open-air bas-reliefs, making it a one-stop destination for the Pallava art. In this talk, Professor Swaminathan explored the characteristics of sculptures, the softness and suppleness of their modelling, and its influence and spread towards the East.