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| Elephanta Caves* | |
|---|---|
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
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| State Party |  India |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | (i)(iii) |
| Reference | 244 |
| Region** | South Asia |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1987 (11th Session) |
| * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO. |
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Coordinates: 18°58′00″N 72°56′09″E / 18.9666667°N 72.93583°E The Elephanta Caves (Marathi: घारापुरीच्या लेण्या - Caves of Gharapuri) are caves located on Elephanta Island in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai, Maharashtra, India that contain Shaivistic high reliefs in stone of Hindu deities important to worshipers of Shiva. The sculptures were created beginning in the late Gupta Empire, or some time after, and at later dates. Elephanta Island was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 to preserve the artwork.[1]
The original name of this epitome of temple art is Agraharpuri. Agrahar is the necklace or most important neck ornament. The Agraharpuri slowly became Gharapuri; still retaining the original meaning as the focal point of Gharapuri Island, which was renamed Elephanta Island by the Portuguese and is located in Mumbai harbour off the coast of Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay), India. In 1987, the caves were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is visited by many domestic and foreign tourists. In recent years, complaints have been made that visitors mistreat this important cultural and historic site.[2][3] Most of the sculptures here were defaced by the Portuguese, who used the sculptures as target practice in the 17th century. The Portuguese also gave the island its modern name, Elephanta from Gharapuri.[4]
The caves are thought to date back to the Silhara kings of the 9th through 13th centuries (810–1260).[5] Some of the sculptures of this site are also attributed to the imperial Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta (in present day Karnataka), the Trimurti of Elephanta showing the three faces of Shiva almost akin to the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh. This was also the royal insignia of the Rashtrakutas. Other Rashtrakuta sculptures here are the reliefs of Nataraja and Sadashiva and the splendid sculptures of Ardhanarishvara.[6]
The rock-cut temple complex cover an area of 60,000 sq ft (5,600 m2) consisting of a main chamber, 2 lateral ones, courtyards and subsidiary shrines. The site of these magnificent caves contained beautiful reliefs, sculptures, and a temple to the Hindu god Śiva. The caves are hewn from solid rock.[7] The temple complex is said to be the abode of Shiva.
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Trimurti-Sadashiva Statue
The most important sculpture is that of Trimurti Sadasiva, carved in relief at the end of the N-S axis. The image, 20 ft (6.1 m) in height is of the three headed-Shiva, representing Panchamukha Shiva.[8] The right half-face shows him as a young person with sensuous lips, embodying life and its vitality. In his hand he holds something that resembles a rose bud—again with the promise of life and creativity. It is this face that is closest to that of Brahma, the creator or Uma or Vamadeva,the feminine side of Shiva.[4] The left half-face face on the side is that of a young man. It is moustached, and displays anger. This is Shiva as Aghora Bhairava[4], as the one whose anger can engulf the entire world in flames leaving only ashes behind. This is Shiva, the Destroyer. The central face, benign, meditative, as the preserver Vishnu. This is Shiva as the yogi—Yogeshwar—in deep meditation praying for the 'preservation' of humanity.
Threats to Elephanta Caves
The threats to Elephanta Caves include development pressures (mainly due to its location within the Mumbai harbor), unsustainable tourism and tourist facilities on the island, and poor management of the heritage monument.[9][10][11]
See also
- Ajanta Caves
- Barabar Caves
- Ellora Caves
- Indian rock-cut architecture
- List Of Colossal Sculpture In Situ
- Tourism in India
- List of India cave temples
- History of Maharashtra
- History of India
- Gupta Empire
Reference notes
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Elephanta |
- ^ http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-monuments/elephanta-caves.html
- ^ "Save the Caves". south-asian.com. http://www.the-south-asian.com/Aug2004/Elephanta_caves.htm. Retrieved 2006-10-14.
- ^ "Elephanta Caves". Bolography. http://www.boloji.com/photoessays/dv/monuments/dv003i.htm. Retrieved 2006-10-14.
- ^ a b c HT Cafe, Mumbai, Monday, June 4, 2007 pg.31 - Article 'Lord of the Islands" by Jerry Pinto
- ^ http://www.sacred-destinations.com/india/ajanta-caves
- ^ http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/242
- ^ "Elephanta Caves". Mumbai Net. http://www.mumbainet.com/travel/elephanta.htm. Retrieved 2006-10-14.
- ^ Duffer's Guide to Elephanta, Mid-Day, Tinaz Nooshan, Feb 22, 2007, pg A14
- ^ UNESCO State of Conservation Report: India, Elephanta Caves, 2003
- ^ Vinaya Kumar (April 2, 2006). "Threat to Caves of Bombay". The Tribune India. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060402/spectrum/main2.htm.
- ^ Samir S. Patel (May/June 2007). "The Slum and the Sacred Cave". Archaeology Magazine, Volume 60 Number 3. http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/007682.html.
External links
- Video of the caves MTDC site
- Elephanta Caves Photos from Himanshu Sarpotdar
- - Photographs of elephanta and other sites in maharashtra
- Information on the caves
- Description of Rashtrakutas architecture in the caves
- TempleNet - Elephanta Caves
- Elephanta Cave temple plan
- North enterance temple plan
- Elephanta Caves travel guide from Wikitravel
- Archaeological Institute of America Mumbai's Rough-Hewn Legacy Archaeology, February 12, 2007.
- God’s Night Out: A blogger's article written after a visit to Elephanta Caves
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