SHIVA - THE COSMIC DANCER

GHARAPURI  - ELEPHANTA CAVES 8 SHIVA as RUDRA – ANDHAKASURAVADHAMURTHY – slayer of ANDHAKASURA - ANDHAKA-RIPU – The killer of ANDHAKA. SHIVA as RUDRA , AGHORA or BHAIRAVA Out of the sweat from the palms of PARVATHI, when she closed the eyes of SHIVA, was born ANDHAKA. Born blind and ugly, SHIVA gave the child to HIRANYAKSHA the Asura. Born out of darkness, he was called ANDHAKASURA as per the SHIVA PURANA. As per the HARIVAMSA PURANA he supposed to have been born as a Daitya   to Rishi Kashyap & his wife Diti. He did penance to BRAMHA and got a boon to rule over all the three worlds and to die only at the hands of SHIVA. Intoxicated by the power he started torturing all living beings and wanted to usurp the most beautiful woman PARVATHI from SHIVA to marry her, without realizing that PARVATHI was his mother. In the battle, with SHIVA, the LORD pierces ANDHAKASURA with his TRISHUL(Trident), but every drop of his blood which fell on earth created anoth

GHARAPURI  - ELEPHANTA CAVES 7 SHIVA the PARAM YOGI – Ascetic. YOGISHWARA or LAKULISHA (the propounder of PASHUPATHA sect).   yogishwara or Lakulisha        LORD SHIVA the ascetic in KAILASHA in Padmasana. The yogic pose on a Lotus. He is called MAHAYOGI or AADIYOGI or YOGINATH. The closed eyes of SHIVA as a mendicant deep in meditation signify the withdrawal of the self from the world. As a yogi SHIVA is perfection personified and does not require any additional source of energy. He is unaware of the happening in the world. The three headed PARAMYOGI statue, on the left of the Northern entrance has been a matter of debate as to whether the statue is SHIVA the YOGI or SHIVA as LAKULISHA. The image holds important links in the sculptural program of ELEPHANTA in the yogic practice of the PASHUPATHA CULT, as LAKULISHA was the founder teacher of this sect and known to be the 28 th and last form of SHIVA. There is no doubt that, the Early KALACHURI’s who were s

SHAKTHI is SHIVA – ARDHANARISHWARA MAHADEV as ARDHANAREESHWARA. Half SHIVA & half PARVATHI. The word ARDHANARISHWARA means half woman LORD, or half man – half woman representation of the LORD.  LORD SHIVA representing both himself and GODDESS PARVATHI In a single human form, thereby signifying that man and woman are equal and life in itself has no meaning without Prakriti and Purusha. ARDHANAREESWHWARA the representation of equality male and feamale. SHIVA is half SHAKTHI & SHAKTHI is half SHIVA. Without SHAKTHI there is no SHIVA.  The Panel literally shows SHIVA in two halfs split in the middle, the right side being SHIVA the MAN and the LEFT side being PARVATHI the WOMAN.  Rishi BHRINGI was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. He came to KAILASH and was going around SHIVA. PARVATHI asked him to go around her also as they were two halves of the same truth. BHRINGI refused, so PARVATHI sat on the lap of SHIVA. BHRINGI took the form of a BHRING (Black Bee) and t

GHARAPURI  - ELEPHANTA CAVES 5 KAILASHPATI  – SHIVA KILLING  THE AHANKAR OF RAVANA KAILASHA being lifted by RAVANA Pleased with RAVANA’s penance   lord SHIVA granted him the boon of being the mightiest person in the world.  In order to test his might, he started with trying to uproot the KAILASHA Mountain in order to lift it. The calm SHIVA with PARVATHI to his right, presses his toe on the ground and traps RAVANA The shaking KAILASHA, Petrifies PARVATHI, Gods,  Rishi’s and Gana’s. LORD SHIVA presses the KAILASHA Mountain with his toe, which stops the shaking and traps and crushes RAVANA. The suffocated RAVANA realizes that he might be very mighty, but is not equal to even the pressure of the toe of LORD SHIVA. The serene lord SHIVA sports a calm look and protects his family The all-pervading SADASHIVA in a relaxed sitting posture with PARVATHI to his right, has a calm serene face. The entire panel, except for the face of SHIVA is vandalized by the Portugues

THE TAMING OF GANGA – SHIVA as GANGADHARA. – BHAGIRATHA PRAYATNA SHIVA as GANGADHARA The panel shows King BHAGIRATHA praying to LORD SHIVA to break the fall of GANGA.  SHIVA as GANGADHARA breaks the fall of GANGA by his matt and arrests her flow. Again on prayers by Bhagiratha, SHIVA releases GANGA in small streams.  A jealous wife PARVATHI stands on the left of SHIVA and is being caressed by LORD SHIVA with his back left hand. On the Left bottom a kneeling Bhagiratha prays to LORD SHIVA. A kneeling King BHAGIRATHA praying to SHIVA to release GANGA This panel shows three rivers, GANGA, JAMUNA and the now nonexistent SARASWATHI, flowing out of the JATA( Hair) of LORD GANGADHARA.  MAHADEV as GANGADHARA releasing the rivers GANGA,YAMUNA and the now non existing SARASWATHI from his locked matt.  He is decked with a crown and a necklace, along with the sacred thread ( Janeo or Punool with the Bramha mudichchu or Knott).He is dressed from his waist to his

GHARAPURI  - ELEPHANTA CAVES 3 THE MARRIAGE OF SHIVA AND PARVATHI - attended by relatives, Gana’s, Rishi’s and Deva’s. SHIVA's marriage to PARVATHI, who is standing to his right. SATI who is reborn as PARVATHI to a father who  adores her, does penance to LORD SHIVA to attain him, SHIVA is pleased with the Penance of Parvathi and decides to marry her King HIMAVAN the father, who loves UMA or PARVATHI his daughter, gives her in marriage to SHIVA as SUNDARA. Parvathi Stands on the right hand side of Shiva before marriage. HIMAVAN along with his wife MENA ( MAINA)  placing Uma’s hand in the hands of the LORD SUNDARA.  PARVATHI’s brother MT. MAINAK   with a Kalash (Pot) in his hand and CHANDRA (MOON) behind him. Parvathi is bedecked in Jewels and even Shiva  is crowned and jeweled with necklace and he is holding the sash of his garment which is flowing up to his ankle. A coy PARVATHI bedecked with jewels,SHIVA with a beautiful crown,necklace and yagyopavitham. Sitt

MALLIKARJUNESHWAR TEMPLE - KOTTAI KOVIL - DHARMAPURI - TAMILNADU Vishnu, Mahadev and Brahma on a panel. Arjuna did penance to Lord Shiva,for acquiring heavenly weapons including the Pasupathartha, for fighting the Kurukshetra war. Lord  Shiva wanted to test the resolve of Arjuna and hence took the roopam of a Kirata - Hunter warrior with his horses and Parvathi reached the place where Arjuna was in meditation. The Kalyana Kamakshi Sannidhi on a raised platform than the Lords. Post meditation Arjuna went on a hunt, he saw a huge wild boar and let an arrow from his bow Gandiva. However, Lord Shiva himself released his arrow at the same time and both the arrows found their mark at the same time. Both claimed victory and in the tuzzle, a  battle  ensued between lord  Kiratamoorthy and Arjuna.  Duel Between Lord Shiva & Arjuna for the boar Arjuna's arrows were consumed by lord Shiva's arrows. Finally Arjuna realised that he was battling against the almighty