Elephanta Caves of India

Posted on May 9, 2009 - Filed Under Arts & Culture, Travel

Just outside of the city of Mumbai, formerly called Bombay, are the Elephanta Caves. Recently recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the caves are a popular attraction for tourists. Many Bombay, India hotels offer transportation to the caves. The architecture is exquisite, believed to have been created during the time between the ninth and the thirteenth centuries, these carved sculptures were vandalized during the late 1,600′s. However, they have been restored at over the years.

The most significant and important of the seven different caves is that of Mahesha-Murti. Upon entering one will notice the enormous figurative works, door-keepers, very impressive. Further within the cave there is a temple, surrounded by pillars in a row, which artistically grasp at the roof. This cave in particular is dedicated to Shiva, the lord of the temple, and is one of the cave that claims excellence of the artwork in and of itself. The sculptures in this cave are various, pertaining to certain aspects of Shiva’s manly endowments to the life size sculptures. One single image in the cave is that of Trimurthi Sadisiva which stands just about twenty feet tall.

This one sculpture represents the lord of three heads, Shiva rendered as the Preserver, the Creator and the Destroyer of this universe. The creativity and the skill of the sculptors and the architects of so long ago is exemplified in a series of panels of bas relief. Each of the panels depicting the nature of Shiva, unpredictable, but miraculous. The bas reliefs play off of the shade and light. In other panels, Shiva is depicted as one who bestows blessings and carries the weight of the savior. This one sculpture has not been moved for over 1,000 years and is considered one of the most respected masterpieces of Indian Art. Every February, the site is home to the Elephanta Music Festival, and is an adventure one must seriously embark upon when visiting Mumbai. What is offered is the insight and the understanding of the cultural and religious aspects of the entire country of India.

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