ELEPHANTA CAVES

These Are Some Pictures Of Commemorative Board/Stone, Maps, Elephant Sculpture And Hundreds Of Years Old Network Of Elephanta Caves Located At Elephanta Island Near Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. The Elephanta Island Is located In The Arabian Sea. Elephanta Caves Consists Of Two Groups Of Caves; The First Is A Large Group Of Five Hindu Caves And The Second Is Smaller Group Of Two Buddhist Caves. The Hindu Caves Contain Rock Cut Stone Sculptures, Representing The Shaiva Hindu Sect, Dedicated To The Lord Shiva.This Rock Cut Architecture Of The Caves Has Been Dated Back Between The 5Th And The 8th Centuries A.D. The Identity Of The Original Builders Is Still A Subject Of Debate.The Ancient Elephant Sculpture From The Elephanta Island Is Transferred And Installed At The Victoria Garden Mombai Now.
It Is Written On One Of The Commemorative Board Erected Near Elephanta Caves By The Archaeological Survey Of India Mumbai Circle:

ELEPHANTA CAVES

' The Island Of Elephanta, Originally Known As Gharapuri, Derived Its Name From A Massive Stone Image Of Elephant Now Displayed In The"Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Garden" Victoria Garden In Mumbai. The Cave Complex Of Elephanta Comprises Total 7 Caves Of Then Five Are In Lower Western Side, While Two Are At The Eastern Top Of Hillock. Out Of Five Caves At The Lower Side The Cave No. 1 Is Exclusively Curved With Various Manifestation Of Lord Shiva. It Consists Of A Pillared Hall With A Small Shrine And Four Entrance Doors Flanked By The Guardians. While The Massive But Graceful Figures Of Divinities, Guardians And And Certain Architectural Figures Such As The Square Pillar With Cushion Capital Suggest Chalukyan Influence. The Depiction Of Mountains And Clouds And The Hairstyles Of Women Are Reminiscent Of Gupta Art.
Facing North The Main Cave Consists Of A Sanctum And Massive Hall Divided Into Five Bays. The Excellent Carved Panels On The Walls Of This Cave Include The Yogeshvara (Lord Of Yoga), Nataraja Shiva (Cosmic Dancer), Shivaparvati, Ardhanarishvara, Gangadhara, Andhakasuravadha, Ravananugraha Shiva,Kalyansunder Morti And Maheshmorti. The Ceiling Of The Main Cave Is Believed To Have Been Originally Painted With Different Colours. The Maheshmorti Of Shiva Is Depicted On The South Wall With Three Aspects Of Creation, Protection And Destruction Revealing A Masterpiece Of Chalukyan Gupta Art.
The Circular Pedestal In The Open Courtyard Marks The Seat Of Nandi (Bull) The Vehicle Of Shiva. The Side Cave Has A Small Shrine And A Pradakshinapatha ( Eight Mother Goddesses) Flanked By Kartikeya And Ganesha.
The Other Caves Are Plain And Lesser Embellished. The Other Antiquarian Remains Found In Elephanta Caves Are Stupa (3rd Century B.C) At The Top Of Hillock , Kshatrapa Coins Of The 4Th Century And Some Sculptures Including Mahishasurmardini, Four Headed Image, Brahma, Vishnu And Garuda.
This Site Was Declared By The Archaeological Survey Of India As A Monument Of National Vides No. 2704-A Dated 26-5-1909 And Thereafter Inscribed By The UNESCO As A World Heritage Site In the 1987.'
Source: Internet Search