|
About
Elephanta
Caves |
|
Elephanta
Caves are a network of sculpted caves which are situated on
Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri ("the city of caves") in Mumbai
Harbour, about 11 kms to the east of the city of
Mumbai,
Maharashtra. The island, situated on an arm of the
Arabian Sea, comprises 2 groups of caves—the first is a large
group of 5 Hindu caves and the second is a smaller group of 2
Buddhist caves. The Hindu caves include rock cut stone
statues, depicting the Shaiva Hindu sect, devoted to the god
Shiva.
The rock cut design of the caves dates between the 5th and 8th
centuries, although the uniqueness of the original builders is
still a subject of debate. The caves are hewn from solid
basalt rock. All the caves were also initially painted in the
past, but now only traces remain.
The main cave (Cave 1, or the Great Cave) was a Hindu place of
worship until Portuguese rule start in the year 1534, after
which the caves suffered harsh damage. This cave was
modernized in the year 1970 after years of neglect, and was
declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 to conserve the
artwork. It is presently maintained by the Archaeological
Survey of India (ASI).
|
|
| |
|
Overview of Elephanta Caves |
|
The island has 2 type of caves in the rock-cut structural
pattern. The caves are built from solid basalt rock.
All caves were decorated a long time
ago, but only traces remain. The bigger collection of caves,
which has 5 caves on the western hill of the island, is famous
for its Hindu statues. The
major cave, which is known as Cave 1, is about
1
mile up a hillside and faces the ocean. It is a rock-cut temple
compound which spreads over an area of
60,000 square feet,
and comprises of a major chamber, 2 other chambers,
courtyards, and auxiliary temples.
It is
39 metres deep from the front access to the back. The
compound of the shrine is the dwelling of Shiva, represented
in broadly renowned carvings which disclose his various types
and acts.
At
the eastern side of the island on the Stupa Hill, there is a
tiny collection of caves which has Buddhist monuments. This
hill is named after the sacred Stupa monument that they
reveal. From the caves, 2 caves are not fully
completed, whereas the other includes a Stupa which is made up
of brick.
|
|
| |
|
History of Elephanta Caves |
|
The history of the island is conjectural, at best. Pandavas,
the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata, and Banasura, the
evil spirit disciple of Shiva,
both built the shrines or cut caves
to live. Local customs depicts that the caves are not
artificial.
Elephanta caves dates back to late 5th to late 8th century AD.
Archaeological excavations have discovered a few Kshatrapa
coins which dates back to 4th century AD. History of the caves
dates back to the defeat of Mauryan rulers of Konkan by the
Badami Chalukyas ruler Pulakesi II (609–642) in a naval war,
in 635 AD. Afterwards the elephanta was called Puri or Purika,
and become the capital of the Konkan Mauryas.
The Chalukyas, who beaten the Kalacuris and the Konkan
Mauryas, are also considered by some to be builder of the main
cave, in the middle of the 7th century.
The
Rashtrakutas are the last pretenders
to the foundation of the major cave, which dates back to the
early 7th to late 8th century. The Elephanta Shiva cave bear
resemblance in some aspects the 8th-century Rashtrakuta
rock-shrine Kailash at Ellora.
Afterwards, Elephanta was reigned by another Chalukyan
dynasty, and then by Gujarat Sultanate, who surrendered it to
the Portuguese in the year 1534. The Portuguese left in 1661
as per the marriage treaty of Catherine of Braganza, daughter
of King John IV of Portugal and Charles II of England.
|
|
|
|
|
Main Cave
|
|
The main cave, also known as Cave 1, Shiva cave or the Great
Cave, is
27 metres square in plan including a hall. At the access of
the cave there are 4 doors, with 3 open doorways and a walkway
at the back. Pillars,
6 in
every row, split the hall into a sequence of small chambers. The roof of the hall has hidden
beams supported by stone columns attached jointly by capitals.
The entrance of the cave is linked with the north–south axis.
The northern entry point of the cave,
which has 1,000 vertical steps, is surrounded by 2 panels of
Shiva which dates back to the Gupta period. The left section
portrays Yogishvara (The Lord of Yoga) and the right
demonstrates Nataraja (Shiva as the Lord of Dance).
The main
temple of Shiva is a separate square cell with 4 entry points,
situated at the right part of the central hall. Some tiny
temples are situated on the east and west part of the caves.
The eastern sanctuary is the ceremonial access.
Each wall has statues of Shiva. The main Trimurti of Shiva is
placed on the south wall.
The central cave blend Chalukyan structural design such as
huge statues of the religion, custodians,
and square pillars with traditional
capitals with Gupta artistic features, like the representation
of clouds and mountains and female hairstyles.
|
|
|
|
|
Main Cave Temple
|
|
The main temple is a separate square cell, with access on each
of its parts. Each door is flanked by 2 ate keepers). The
Linga, the sign of Shiva in union with the Yoni, and the sign
of Parvati collectively represent the absolute unity that is
deified by the temple.
|
|
|
|
|
East Wing
|
|
Some courtyards to the east and west of the main cave are
blocked, though there is a
17 m
wide courtyard that is reachable by entering the eastern part
and climbing 9 steps. A shrine on the southern wall of the
court portrays a well-preserved murals. The circular base
visible in the courtyard in front of the Shiva's temple close
to the east end, in the open area, is believed to be the seat
of Nandi, Shiva's mount.
|
|
|
|
|
West Wing |
|
West Wing is in a semi-ruined shape and its entry point is
from the main cave. It
has a tiny chapel and a cistern together with the pillared
cave, which is considered to be Buddhist. One other temple to
the west of the courtyard, with an entrance, has statuettes of
Shiva in a yogic pose seated on a lotus carried by “two fat,
heavy, wigged statues”.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chat
