The discovery surprised me even as it brought a grin to my face. The image seems surreal as it would be the last place you would expect to see something so banal.

The Ellora temple in Aurangabad district is a UNESCO listed world heritage site. In a temple dedicated to Hindu gods, on a stone relief depicting the torment of the venerated Nandi, is the most offensive act that a human can do.

And if the intent of the perpetrator of the crime can be guessed correctly, it is to heap the most humiliating insult on Nandi, the sacred bull.

On a wall in cave number 21, the stone relief shows a group of children harassing Nandi. Anyone with experience of handling children, especially young ones, will vouch that their cherubic countenances and innocent demeanor notwithstanding, the kids can drive you nuts. And Nandi is at his wit’s end.

The children can be seen tugging and biting Nandi’s tail, some seize the bull by its horn, climb on to his back and try to yank its leg. One particularly naughty brat, the hero or the villain of the relief, spreads his bum wide to humiliate Nandi.

Built between the 5th and 10th century, Ellora Caves is one of the world’s finest architectural grandeurs.

The 34 caves, carved out of basalt rock between the 5th and 10th centuries, is testimonial to human determination and man’s endeavor to create things of beauty.

Time has left its indelible mark on the Ellora temples but what has survived, sings magnificent tales of the bygone era. The Kailashnath temple is the grandest of the temples.

The sculptors of Ellora had a field day with their imagination. They chiseled statues, some as tall as 15 feet and more, to commemorate gods and religious beliefs of their patrons.

On the walls are carved majestic Rudras, grand Natrajas, Shiva and Parvatis, Ganeshas with their potbellies, Durga as Mahishasura Mardini bristling with righteous fury, Buddha in various poses and the Jain Thirthankars. The legend of demon king Ravana trying to lift Mt Kailash and eating humble pie; seems to be very popular as it finds representation in more than one cave.

The torment of Nandi too seems to be another favourite. However, its prudish sculptor reined in his imagination and created a sculpture which doesn’t shock you but conveys the grief of the sacred bull in abundant measure.

The Ellora sculptors also had a fine sense of humor as can be judged from the Nandi stone relief. It not only shows the lighter side of life but also the artist’s ability to draw inspiration from mundane activities besides having a good understanding of child psychology and behaviour.