Elephanta Caves
The Elephanta Caves are a complex of Shiva temple caves on Elephanta Island, an hour-long ferry ride from Mumbai (Bombay), India. A visit to Elephanta Island is a worthy destination in itself, and it also provides a view of the city's skyline from the water and a welcome escape from the chaos of Mumbai's streets.
These rock cut temples were created by carving out rock, and creating the columns, the internal spaces and the images. The entire temple is akin to a huge sculpture, through whose corridors and chambers one can walk. The entire complex was created through a process of rock removal. Some of the rock surfaces are highly finished while some are untreated bare rock.
The origins and artists of the temple caves, thought to date from about the 7th century, remain obscure. We do know, however, that the island was originally called Gharapuri; the Portuguese renamed it Elephanta after they found a large stone elephant near their landing place.
Entry to the caves is via the main northern entrance to a massive hall, supported by large pillars, where the enormous Mahesamurti statue is housed. At 6.3m (18 ft.), the remarkable sculpture depicts Shiva in his three-headed aspect: as Creator (facing right), Protector (the crowned face at the center), and Destroyer (facing left, with serpents for hair).
Other sculptures near the doorways and on side panels celebrate Shiva's accomplishments. One shows Shiva bringing the Ganges River down to Earth, letting it trickle through his matted hair. He is also depicted as Yogisvara, lord of Yogis, seated on a lotus, and as Shiva Nataraja, the many-armed cosmic dancer. The beauty of this stonework lies in the grace, balance, and sense of peace conveyed in spite of the subject's multiple actions.
Left of the Mahesamurti is Shiva as both male and female, Ardhanarishvara, an aspect suggesting the unity of all opposites. |
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