Elephanta Island is popular for various ancient temples, carvings, and sculptures. The Elephanta Caves are a great tourist attraction in the vicinity of the large Mumbai meteropolis. One has to travel by ferry to reach the island. Rao mentions that the Trimurti sculpture of this cave represents Mahesha murti with its left head representing Aghora, middle one Sadyojata. The Elephanta Caves contain rock cut stone sculptures that show syncretism of Hindu and Buddhist ideas and iconography. The Hindu caves are dedicated to the god Shiva. Cave No 2 has a porch with four pillars in front and two small rooms. All the caves were also originally painted in the past, but now only traces remain. Except for a few exceptions, much of the artwork is defaced and damaged. E B Havell (1921, Ars Asiatica vol III ) – I do not have access to this article hence my observations on it are derived from Collins directly. The Elephanta Caves visiting timings are between 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. The caves are hewn from solid basalt rock. The Maheshmurti or Trimurti's sculpture represents three aspects of Shiva: the right half-face signifying life and creativity; The main cave, also called the Shiva cave, Cave 1, or the Great Cave, is 27 metres square in plan with a hall (mandapa). In Elephanta Island …is the 20-foot- (6-metre-) high trimurti Sadashiva, a three-headed bust of Shiva in the roles of destroyer, preserver, and creator emerging from a mountain. The reliefs and sculptures in the caves has been dated to between the 5th or 6th and 8th centuries. Replica of Trimurti statue of Elephanta Caves.jpg 3,456 × 5,184; 6.99 MB. The Elephanta Caves in their entirety, and the forested areas around them, were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site way back in 1987. The central face, benign and meditative, resembles the preserver Vishnu. Sculpture in Elephenta Caves 0323.jpg 3,000 × 4,000; 1.38 MB. At the entrance are four doors, with three open porticoes and an aisle at the back. The caves are hewn from solid basalt rock. There will also be a sculpture of the Trimurti in the main cave that is approximately 20 feet tall. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. These caves house rock cut temples dating back to the 5th century CE.The Elephanta island was so named by the Portuguese, after the statue of an elephant near the landing area of the island. The three heads are said to represent three essential aspects of Shiva: creation, protection, and destruction. The central Shiva relief Trimurti is located on the south wall and is flanked by Ardhanarisvara (a half-man, half-woman representation of Shiva) on its left and Gangadhara to its right, which denotes the River Ganges' descent from Shiva's matted locks. However there are many themes in Elephanta which are missing in Ellora cave. Brahmanism The others are almost plain-looking and three of them are even incomplete. This image is at the entrance to the caves and is the celebrated trinity of Elephanta: there's Lord Brahma the Creator, Lord Vishnu, the preserver and Lord Shiva the Destroyer. The main temple’s orientation as well as the relative location of other temples are placed in a mandala pattern. Elephanta, Trimurti. The image, 6.1 m in height, depicts a three-headed Shiva, representing Panchamukha Shiva. Described as a "masterpiece of Gupta-Chalukyan art", the most important sculpture in the caves is the Trimurti, carved in relief at the back of the cave facing the entrance, on the north-south axis. This collossal 20 feet high image of the three headed Shiva, Trimurti is a magnificent one and considered to be a masterpiece of Indian art. The Trimurti of Elephanta showing the three faces of Shiva is akin to the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva), which was the royal insignia of the Rashtrakutas. The Trimurti sculpture of Shiva as Creator, Preserver and Destroyer in the Elephanta Caves in Bombay Harbour, Bombay , India, circa 1965. The island has two groups of rock-cut caves, hewn from solid basalt rock. Elephanta Caves are made from solid rock. 1, Elephanta Caves - 1.jpg 800 × 559; 144 KB. However, the major part in this is that still the caves are standing properly and is among the greatest artistic triumphs of the Silhara Dynasty. Sculpture: Trimurti Sadasiva . Trimurti Sadasiva is one of the most prominent sculptures is 20 feet high. The cave is also famous for the exquisite and vibrant sculptures. He did not provide any identification for the right head. The colossal basalt rock structure is the depiction of Lord Shiva with three visible faces; the other two are left to the viewer’s imagination. The Hindu caves contain rock cut stone sculptures, representing the Shaiva Hindu sect, dedicated to the Lord Shiva. Smaller shrines are located at the east and west ends of the caves. Most of the rock-cut sculptures in the Hindu caves are dedicated to Lord Shiva with the 20-feet tall Trimurti sculpture being one of the main attractions of the place. The primary cave, numbered as Cave 1, is about 1.0 km (0.62 mi) up a hillside, facing the Mumbai harbour. The ferry leaves every half hour from the Gateway of India for Elephanta whereas it takes an hour to reach the caves. Elephanta, Trimurti. It is a three-faced image of Lord Shiva. Neff’s argument that this cave is a copy of cave 29 of Ellora and as Ellora has Lakulisha so this cave should also have. Among the cave excavations, the Cave 1 is the most impressive which represents the evolved Brahmanical rock-cut architecture. The Elephanta Caves are two groups of caves that contain Hindu and Buddhist rock art architecture. This face is closest to that of Brahma, the creator or Uma or Vamadeva, the feminine side of Shiva and creator of joy and beauty. The Elephanta Caves (natively known as Gharapurichi Leni) are a network of sculpted caves located on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri (literally "the city of caves") in Mumbai Harbour, 10 kilometres to the east of the city of Mumbai in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is also known as Trimurti Sadashiva and Maheshmurti. The sculpted works of the caves are dated back to the period between the fifth and eight centuries. The vastness of this figure is intimidating. The six-metre monolith of the three-headed Trimurti Sadashiva, the primary attraction at Elephanta Caves, is so iconic, it has been immortalised as the official logo of the state tourism department. This is also known as Rudra-Shiva, the Destroyer. Trideva is the triple deity of supreme divinity in Hinduism In his hand he holds an object resembling a rosebud, depicting the promise of life and creativity. This is Shiva as the terrifying Aghora or Bhairava, the one whose anger can engulf the entire world in flames, leaving only ashes behind. These caves are mainly dedicated to this dominant God of Hinduism. The larger group of caves, which consists of five caves on the western hill of the island, is well known for its Hindu sculptures. The island, located on an arm of the Arabian Sea, consists of two groups of caves; the first is a large group of five Hindu caves, the second, a smaller group of two Buddhist caves. The main cave (Cave 1, or the Great Cave) was a Hindu place of worship until Portuguese rule began in 1534, after which the caves suffered severe damage. Other wings of the caves have shrines dedicated to Shiva’s sons, Kartikeya and Ganesh. It is a famous UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mumbai. Cave No 3 has an oblong hall and a carving of a male figure with six arms on the doorway. These were regular Hindu places of worship, and during the festival of Shiva still continue to be so. Trimurti Sadasiva, is the main sculpture inside the Elephanta Caves. There is an amount of calmness and serenity I experienced. Out of all the Trimurti Sadashiva is the most important and most amazing sculpture. Of the seven caves at Elephanta, only Cave No 1 is profusely adorned with sculptures. Cave 6 and 7 are about 200 m (660 ft) northeast of Cave 1 and 2, but geologically on the edge of the eastern hill. These caves were a place of worship at one point in history. Trimurti – the 3 faced Shiva at the core of the caves. There are seven cave excavations in the Elephanta group and these are datable from circa 6th – 7th centuries A.D. The central shrine of the Great Cave temple is a free-standing square stone cella, with … (source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephanta_Caves). The Trimurti Sadashiva is a representation of the Panchamukha Shiva. Considered ‘masterpiece of Gupta-Chalukyan art’ this is the most important & most impressive sculpture in the cave. The Elephanta island is located 10 km away from the Gateway of India at Mumbai. Trimurti – Elephanta Caves Gangadhara: The Gangadhara image to the right of the Trimurti is an ensemble of divinities assembled around the central figures of Shiva and Parvati The former bearing the River Ganges as she descends from heaven. This cave was renovated in the 1970s after years of neglect, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 to preserve the artwork. A delight for mythology enthusiasts and history buffs, Elephanta caves is a group of historic caves in an island off the Mumbai coast. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. How to draw The Trimurti sculpture from the Elephanta Caves#trimurti #howtodraw #learntodrawHello, I am Diego and I am a great fan of drawing and the arts. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Trimurti-sculpture-Elephanta-Island-India. This is Tatpurusha, "master of positive and negative principles of existence and preserver of their harmony" or Shiva as the yogi Yogeshwar in deep meditation praying for the preservation of humanity. As the caves were not taken care properly, it received tremendous damage. The right half-face (west face) shows him as a young person with sensuous lips, embodying life and its vitality. Other sculptures depict Shiva crushing Ravana with his toe, the marriage of Shiva and Parvati, Shiva bringing the Ganges (Ganga) River to earth by letting it…. The rock cut architecture of the caves has been dated to between the 5th and 8th centuries, although the identity of the original builders is still a subject of debate. In general it can be said that the trimurti has less of a role in the Hinduism of recent centuries than in ancient India. Sadashiva Trimurti Pancamukha Shiva Elephanta island.jpg 2,848 × 4,288; 5.43 MB. Elephanta Caves are a collection of cave temples located in Gharapuri or Elephanta Island in Mumbai. Discovered by the Portuguese, they were named Elefante as they first found some elephant statues there. The left half-face (east face) is that of a moustached young man, displaying anger. The central Shiva shrine is a free-standing square cell with four entrances, located in the right section of the main hall. The island, located on an arm of the Arabian Sea, consists of two groups of caves; the first is a large group of five Hindu caves, … Other sculptures depict Shiva crushing Ravana with his toe, the marriage of Shiva and Parvati, Shiva bringing the Ganges (Ganga) River to earth by letting it… Read More A Hindu king from the Kalachuri dynasty built the Elephanta Caves. A prominent visual example of a Shaivite version of the Trimurti is the Trimurti Sadashivasculpture in the Elephanta Caves on Gharapuri Island. Linga Shrine. The Elephanta Shiva cave resembles in some aspects the 8th century Rashtrakuta rock-temple Kailash at Ellora. …is the 20-foot- (6-metre-) high trimurti Sadashiva, a three-headed bust of Shiva in the roles of destroyer, preserver, and creator emerging from a mountain. In 1939, Austrian scholar Stella Kramrisch published an article on the Elephanta Caves, where she mentioned it is a Pashupata cave and a place where Pashupata sadhak (seeker) went to do his sadhna (meditation). The Trimurti is misinterpreted by many, who think it is a representation of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, which it is not. Shaivites believe that Lord Shiva is the Supreme, who assumes various critical roles and assumes appropriate names and forms, and also stands transcending all these. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images Caves 2 through 5 are next to Cave 1 further southeast, arranged in a row. Situated at a distance of 10 km from Gateway of Mumbai, this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was declared so in 1987 after the restoration of the caves in the 1970s. The carving is 13 … However, their original architects and builders have not been identified. The caves actually boast mysterious sculptures that date long back. Book and explore this UNESCO World Heritage site with a guide from Gharapuri, which is a … The Elephanta Caves (natively known as Gharapurichi Leni) are a network of sculpted caves located on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri (literally "the city of caves") in Mumbai Harbour, 10 kilometres to the east of the city of Mumbai in the Indian state of Maharashtra. A six meters (20ft) tall Trimurti sculpture is a world-famous image of these ancient caves built between the 5th and 7th centuries. 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