Krishna’s Buutterball in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, refuses to give in to gravity or the shoves of tourists! The giant granite boulder, six metres high and five metres wide, is perched on a slope, defying all laws of physics. Weighing around 250 tonnes, it is said to have been at the same place for 1200 years. It is part of the Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram built during 7th and 8th century CE by the Pallava Dynasty. The original name, Vaan Irai Kal, translates from Tamil as “Stone of Sky God”. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna often stole butter from his mother’s butter handi; the big stone has been likened to a giant dollop of butter that the god dropped.
The rock’s awkward position makes it quite popular with locals and tourists alike as it makes for an interesting backdrop for some whacky photographs. It’s a common sight to see visitors placing hands under the stone posing for pictures, which looks as though they are holding it up. The rock provides welcome shade if you dare to sit underneath it, and local kids have discovered that the slippery nearby hillside also makes a great natural slide.
Mahabalipuram is an ancient historic town and was a bustling seaport during the time of Periplus (1st century CE) and Ptolemy (140 CE). Ancient Indian traders who went to countries of South East Asia sailed from the seaport of Mahabalipuram. Today’s Mahabalipuram is purely a tourist town and one of the major attractions around Chennai. People visit this place to see the magnificent rock carvings, temples, cave sanctuaries, giant open-air reliefs such as the famous ‘Descent of the Ganges’, and the temple of Rivage, with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva.
Picture Credit : Google
