Legend has it that Ravana was once flying in his vehicle, the Pushpaka Vimana, when he encountered an obstacle − the soaring Mount Kailasa, abode of Siva and Parvati. Enraged, Ravana lifted the mountain with his mighty arms.

Lord Siva, who was seated on the mountain with a very alarmed Parvati, pressed down with his toe to steady the earth and to trap Ravana beneath Kailasa for a thousand years. Here, you see a four-armed Siva sitting in a frontal, sukhasana posture with a diminutive Parvati seated on his left thigh. Four sages are shown worshipping Siva.

The sacred mountain occupies only the top one-third of the composition and is represented as overlapping boulders in relief.

Two plump, funny ganas frolic by Ravana's feet, helping him maintain his balance.