SHIVA - THE COSMIC DANCER

GHARAPURI - ELEPHANTA CAVES 15 - FINAL ICONOGRAPHY OF ELEPHANTA CAVES MAHESHAMURTHY  NOT TRIMURTHY The Gharapuri or Elephanta Caves must have been built between the 5th and 6th century C.E., the five  Hindu and two Buddhist caves collectively known as the Elephanta Caves have survived through centuries of habitation, invasion and neglect. The island and its resident caves received the name ‘Elefanta Ishle’ from Portuguese invaders after the discovery of a black stone sculpture of an elephant on the island, now housed outside Mumbai’s  Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum . VAMADEVA The excavations of cave temples in this region are divided into three classes according to the sects to which they belong, namely Buddhist, Brahmanical Hindu, and Jains. The earliest known architecture are the Buddhist around 3 rd century BC, Brahmanical caves whether connected to Shiva or Vishnu came next around the 4 th century to 8 th century Current Era and can be termed the Medieval

GHARAPURI   - ELEPHANTA CAVES 14 HISTORY OF ELEPHANTA CAVES MAHESHA ELEPHANTA While the creators of the caves remain unknown due to a lack of surviving records, local legend credits various mythical and non-human figures with the creation of these temples. The earliest surviving records identify Elephanta Island as Puri or Purika, the capital of the Konkan Maurya kingdom during the 6th century C.E. though their role in building the caves remains debated amongst historians. LION PEDESTAL   In all Probability, The Elephanta or Gharapuri   caves were commissioned around the 5 th or 6 th century CE and are unique in the sense, they do not contain any specimen of early Indian architecture. The Gupta Empire coincides with the revival of Hinduism and a remarkably liberal patronization of Art and Architecture of the medieval period between 350 to 650 CE. These beautiful monuments faced ruthless vandalism from the Portuguese, who not only used them as ca

GHARAPURI   - ELEPHANTA CAVES 13 TOPOGRAPHY OF ELEPHANTA CAVES courtesy Dr. Hiranandan Sastri. A guide to Elephanta - 1934 Western India consists of at least 900 rock cut cave temples or Stupa’s or Viharas which throw a flood of light on the history of Architecture and religion in India. Mumbai region in itself has about 130 of them in both Elephanta and Salsette Islands. The Sahayadri range of mountain made up of hard Basalt rock or Trap rock were the most easiest to carve the structure and also in a unique gigantic sizes. FLOOR PLAN OF ELEPHANTA MAIN CAVE The caves are situated in an island 11 Kms from Mumbai - Gateway of India and are reachable be ferry boats which take an hour journey to the islands. The island which is of 4 square mile’s has two hills with a narrow valley in between them. The island was christened by the Portuguese as” Elefanta Ilha ” because the landing place in the Island known as Rajghat, had a colossal rock statue of an Elephant 13.2”

GHARAPURI  - ELEPHANTA CAVES 12 GANESHA, KUMARA & THE ASHTHA MATRIKA LORD GANESHA On the southern side is a LINGA SHRINE with a tiger like gargoyle as mouth. The adjacent chamber consists of three walls depicted with a huge GANESHA   on the southern wall with his VAHANA MOOSHIKA (Rat) near his left knee. Above the head of GANESHA are two MITHUNA’s flying on either side. On the northern wall is a standing figure which one can see could be SHIVA or his son KUMARA( KARTHIKEYA ). More likely it is KUMARA , because the staff held on his right hand looks like a VEL or spear. On the right side is BRAHMA sitting on the lotus on swans and to the left side of KARTHIKEYA is the chaturbhuja MAHAVISHNU on GARUDA carrying his GADA ( Mace ) on his right hand and his CHAKRA (Disc) & SHANKHA (Conch) on his left hand. LORD KUMARA or KARTHIKEYA The western wall consists of 10 figures, out of which the 1 st two figures are of LORD GANESHA & VEER

GHARAPURI  - ELEPHANTA CAVES 11 SHIVA as LAKULISHA – The guru of the PASHUPATHI cult. LAKULISHA, The PASHUPATHA teacher. MAHADEV is sitting on a pedestal or throne of LOTUS. This pedestal is being held up by two figures, probably Nagas, visible only up to their upper portion. The left hand of SHIVA rest’s on his thighs. The right arm is slightly raised. Though the attributes of this panel are not clear, the comparison of the same with similar sculpture elsewhere, shows SHIVA in the form of LAKULISHA. (Master, or wielder of the LAKULA or Club or Baton. The panel is vandalized. To the right side of the central figure of SHIVA as LAKULISH is a figure seated with a plantain in his hands. A bearded ascetic is seen behind him. Similarly an ascetic is sitting on the left side, above this is the image of BRAHMA with some flying attendants on both sides. There is no doubt that, the Early KALACHURI’s who were supposed to have built the ELEPHANTA caves, were follower

GHARAPURI  - ELEPHANTA CAVES 10 SHIVA as LINGA – The SAGUNA form of NIRGUNA. Symbolic form of SHIVA – SHAKTHI. DWARAPALAKAS to the shirne of MAHADEVA Saguna  means “with attributes.”  Nirguna  means “without attributes.” “ Saguna ” describes a God with (tangible) attributes. The term “ Nirguna  Brahman” describes a God with no (tangible) attributes (source). The most popular form of worshipping Lord Shiva in Hinduism is in the LINGA form. It is known as SHIVALING or SHIVALINGA. The LINGA symbol is an attempt to give form to the formless, referred as Supreme Being or Brahman in Hindu religion. When a LINGA is installed on a YONI, it represents the union of SHIVA and SHAKTI – the beginning of creation. It is found at the centre of the temple, often resting in the middle of a rimmed, disc-shaped YONI. SHIVA as a LINGAM In the main cave, in the right middle six steps lead to a raised platform of 3.5 feet high. A cubicle Garbha Griha devoid of any a

GHARAPURI  - ELEPHANTA CAVES 9 SHIVA as NATARAJA – The Cosmic Dancer – King of Dances or Lord of Dancers. NATARAJA - The Cosmic Dancer The dance of the LORD SHIVA is known as TANDAVA. There are supposed to be sixteen Tandava’s, out of which Ananda Tandava signifies creation and Rudra Tandava signifies destruction. There are also 108 Karana’s of the Tandavam, which forms part of the Indian traditional Dance of BHARATANATYAM. NATARAJA the CREATOR. In the normal pose of Nataraja, The lord stands on his right leg, with the left leg lifted towards the right, with his front hands one in Abhaya Mudra( signs of protection) and the other hand pointing downwards are on the right hand side of the Lords body. SHIVA IN ANANDATANDAVAM This panel shows a UNIQUE posture of the Lord of Dances “NATARAJA”. In normal postures of Nataraja, the lord has four hands, this feature of the Lord seems to have eight hands ASHTABHUJA, out of which the front hands with the Abhaya mu