ELEPHANTA CAVES

The Elephanta Island, located in the Mumbai harbour off the coast of Mumbai is the site of the famous Elephanta caves, which is a mixture of beautiful carvings, sculptures, and a temple to the Hindu God, Lord Shiva. These Elephanta caves are located at a distance of 11-km from Mumbai and are now designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The island of Elephanta is a commercial, military and religious centre for centuries and has traces of early Buddhist culture.

History

The Elephanta caves date back to the reign of Silhara kings belonging to the period between 9th - 12th centuries. With the resurgence of Brahminical culture during the reign of Gupta dynasty in 3rd century AD, these caves dedicated to Lord Shiva exploded into existence at Elephanta. Legends suggest that the great warrior prince of Chalukya dynasty Pulkesin ll raised the shrine to celebrate his victory. Some historians also suggest that these magnificient caves were built by the Kalchuri King Krishnaraja in 6th century AD.

As the worship of the figure of the Buddha began to be encouraged with rise of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism, a Buddha shrine was introduced to house Buddha's image, replacing the cells at the centre of the back wall. The famous Monasteries present in Ajanta lead us directly to Elephanta. It appears that the same families of craftsmen and sculptors who were working on the Kailasa temple of Ellora and adjoining Buddhist caves at Ellora were employed at Elephanta.

An Exquisite Example OF Rock-Cut Artistry

No doubt the cave was the creation of an unknown master architect, who having thoroughly absorbed and assimilated the magnificent contribution of his predecessors in the dual traditions of the independent free standing sculpture and rock-cut architecture.

The island was the capital of the powerful coastal kingdom and the excavations of the caves in the 6th century added to the glory of the kingdom. Later the Portuguese took possession of this famous island and as they first found a monolith elephant the island was named Elephanta.

It is believed that the caves were used as target practice after they constructed a fort and put a flag to ward off the pirates. Whatever the cause may be many of the sculptures have been desecrated. Leter the Britishers captured the island from the Portuguese and tried to find out who had build these caves, but failed. The Britishers planned to take the monolith elephant to England but they could not lift it. This monolith elephant is now kept in the Bombay Museum.

The Elephanta Caves And Temples

The elephanta island rises in two conical hillocks. The architect sculptors carved out of solid basalt rock creates a representation of the heavenly mountain residence of Lord Shiva. Opening out from three sides, the temple lets in light from many angles making the sculptures seem to move with the changing angles of light.

The temple consists of a large hall, with nine sculptured panels representing Lord Shiva in different moods. The temple plan is so symmetric with important focal points worked out in a geometric Mandala (the design that represents the energy field).

Flights of steps, which can prove to be very daunting, take one to the caves. One can also hire a chair to be carried up. Today the caves can be easily approached, but think of the time when the artisan used only the contours of the hill to reach the top and then chiselled out the basalt rocks to give it the shape of heavenly abode of Shiva.

The pillars inside the cave give an impression that these pillars support the roof. Again the cross beams on the roof makes the visitor feel there is a ceiling of the caves. The pillars have been deliberately kept simple as to attract the attention towards the exquisite carvings on the panels, which are nine in number. There are three opening to the caves, allowing light to enter from various angles in different seasons giving an expression that the images are moving with transition of light.

Elephanta - The World Of Lord Shiva

Elephanta is the place where the main events in the mythology of Lord Shiva are depicted most powerfully, consistently and exclusively. At Ellora though other Gods appear on the panel with Shiva, at Elephanta there is nothing but Shiva. To spend a day at Elephanta is to spend a day outside of the world, or rather in another World, "the World of Shiva".

Carvings Depicting Lord Shiva

Elephanta caves are temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to the Hindu Mythology three Gods govern their world: Brahma -- the creator, Vishnu -- the Preserver and Maheshwara -- the Destroyer. Elephanta has a story that there was a pillar whose end could not be found. Even the Gods failed to determine the length of the pillar. Then "Lingobhava", Lord Shiva emerged from the temple and hence every body accepted that Lord Shiva is infinite, the Greatest of them all. The temples in the Elephanta caves and the carvings on the walls show Shiva in different moods and shapes, Lord Shiva practicing Yoga, Lord Shiva meditating with snakes coiled around his neck, at places He is in company of his wife, Parvati. Panel 6 of the caves represents the marriage of Shiva with Parvati with the rites being performed by Brahma and scores of other Gods attending the marriage. Panel 5 of the cave describes the coming of Ganga from heaven to Earth. As the great force of Ganga might have destroyed the Earth She lands in the hair locks of Shiva who then gently releases her. The wise and righteous Lord before whom the forces of evil and ignorance flee and are terrified into submission is carved on the 7th panel. Similarly other wall panels narrate the story of Lord Shiva. On the western end is the sanctuary of Linga denoting the essence of creative power, in which Lord Shiva is worshipped as the Lord of Fertility and Procreation. Two smaller shrines flank the eastern and the western entrances to the main cave. The sculptures here are badly mutilated, not much is known of the artists who designed and carved these caves representing Shiva in his paradoxical nature in different forms and moods.

Best Time To Visit: Between November and March

HOW TO GET THERE

Boat: The Elephanta Island is accessible only by boat from the Gateway of India, in Mumbai . A chugging ferry ride from the Gateway of India, surpassing the fishing boats, large ships, little islands, occasionally leaping fishes, reminding in its way down the ever changing face time and it takes 15 minutes to reach the Elephanta Island.

WHERE TO STAY

Accommodation is available at the hotels in Mumbai.