Elephanta Caves

The Elephanta Caves, also known as Gharapuri Caves, are a collection of cave temples primarily dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. These ancient rock-cut shrines, considered to have been constructed between the 5th and 7th centuries CE are Located on Elephanta Island in Mumbai Harbour, India.

The main cave at the island (also called the Great Cave) consists of a square court surrounded by cells and several entrances. The main entrance faces north, while two side entrances face east and west. The temple is enclosed in the cave with only interior walls, without an exterior wall.

The Linga shrine of the Great Cave temple is a free-standing square stone cella (the inner area of an ancient temple), with entrances on each of its sides. Each door is flanked by two Dvarapalas (gate guardians), for a total of eight around the shrine.

Dvarapalas (gate guardians) at the doors of the Linga Shrine in the Main Cave

The Main Cave - The Shiva Linga inside the Linga shrine

Each wall has large carvings of Shiva-related legends. The carvings in the main cave include the Trimurti (also known as Sadashiva and Maheshmurti), Ardhanarisvara (a half-Shiva, half-Parvati composite), Gangadhara, the wedding of Shiva, Yogishvara (Lord of Yoga), Nataraja (Lord of Dance) and Ravananugraha (the demon king Ravana shaking the mountain Kailash).

The Trimurti depicting Tatpurusha (Mahadeva), Aghora (Bhairava) and Vamadeva (Uma) faces of Shiva

The partially damaged Ardhanarisvara panel: depicting the right half as Shiva and the left half as Parvati, standing reclining against his mount Nandi in the center

The Gangadhara Murti: depicting the central role of Lord Shiva in the descent of the river goddess Ganga from heaven

The Kalyanasundara Murti: which depicts the marriage between Shiva and Parvati

The Yogishvara (Mahayogi Shiva) panel: depicting Shiva in yogic (Padmasana) posture

Nataraja Shiva panel

The Ravananugraha Murti: depicting the demon king Ravana shaking the mountain Kailash. In this legend, one day as Ravana is passing the over mountain Kailash in his Pushpak aircraft, Kartikeya (the son of Shiva and Parvati) does not allow him passage as Shiva and Parvati are residing in the mountain. Angered by this, Ravana tries to shake the mountain with all his might.

Other than the main cave, the island consists of four more caves dedicated to Hinduism.

Cave 2 and Cave 5 are unfinished, whereas Cave 3 and Cave 4 are severely damaged.