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Elephanta Caves MumbaiCaves/Monuments. By cruisingindia.com on Oct 28, 2006.
Hewn out of solid rock face of the Gharapuri Island some eleven kilometers east of the Mumbai harbor are the Elephanta Caves, a magnificent specimen of rock cut architecture of ancient India. Originally called Gharapuri Caves, the Elephanta Caves are a Hindu cave temple complex, a legacy of the Konkan Muryas, Rashtrakuta Kings and the Gupta Dynasty. The Portuguese, who controlled the area from mid 16th to mid 17th century, named the island and the caves as Elephanta after the huge statues of elephants that were found there. The British later transferred these statues to a local museum in Mumbai.
Elephanta Caves Images
Elephanta Caves Layout and ConstructionElephanta caves, the star of Elephanta Island, is the rock cut abode of Lord Shiva. The complex consists of seven caves spread over two hills, five on the Western hill and two on the Eastern hill. The cave comples is cut out of basalt rock face, and covers an area of sixty-thousand square feet. It contains subsidiary shrines, courtyards, halls, and porticos, in amazing symmetry and decorated by exquisitely carved figures of gods and goddesses, which are an amalgamation of traditional Hindu art with Gupta Buddhist elements.The most striking monument is the cave on the Western hill. The main attraction of this multi-sculptured hall is the southern wall. There are three entrances to the temple – the ones on the East and West marking its axes. A twenty-pillared hall lines the axis, and on its western end is a cella, which houses a Shiva Lingam. The pillars consist of rectangular bases with fluted columns. At the back, on the south wall of the cave is the colossal, magnificent sculpture of The Trimurti, or Hindu Trinity. Standing high at 5.4 meters, it depicts the three aspects of God, Brahma as the Creator, Vishnu as the Preserver, and Shiva as the Destroyer. To the left is the figure of Shakti the life-giver, and to the right is Swarupa, the serene Shiva. The enclosure contains a figure of Shiva as Ardha Nariswara, a male and female amalgam, as well as the depiction of Shiva bringing holy Ganga down to earth. The square linga shrine or main shrine is at the western end of the hall. Dwarapalas or doorkeepers guard each of its four doors. These figures can be attributed to Buddhist art styles of the Gupta period. There is another shrine on the East with Dwarapalas guarding it. Large scenes are wrought in stonewalls of the cave, especially about different details of Lord Shiva. There is a Lakulisa or Shiva in yogic posture aloft a lotus, and Nataraja or Shiva in dancing posture. Other images include yoni lingam symbol of Shiva’s creativity, Shiva and Parvati playing dice, Ravana shaking Mount Kailash where Shiva is seated. Around the perimeter of the caves are sculpted compartments with images from Hindu mythology, like Shiva killing the demon Andhaka, and the marriage of Shiva and Parvati. Behind Parvati stands Himalaya her father and Chandrama the moon god, carrying a pot of Soma, food of Gods. Today this masterpiece of Hindu iconography and sculpture of ancient times is a site to savor for hundreds of visitors from the nearby metropolis of Mumbai. It has been marked as a World Heritage Site since 1987. Elephanta Caves Getting ThereIt is about a 45-minute boat ride from the Gateway of India to the Elephanta Island. Timing is between 9.00 to 14.30 hrs. It is closed only on Mondays. Entrance is free on Friday. Fees for those above 12 years are Rs.5. The best time to visit is between November and March.Traveller feedback for Elephanta Caves Mumbai
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