Elephanta
Island was known in ancient times as "Gharapuri" or The Place of Caves.
The Portuguese took possession of the island and named it Elephanta after the
great statue which they found on the seashore.
There are seven caves of which the most important is the Mahesha-Murti Cave.
The main body of the cave, excluding the porticoes on the three open sides and
the back aisle, is 27 m square and is supported by rows of six columns. The
gigantic figures of Dvarapalas, or doorkeepers are very impressive.
The Cave Temple, which is the pride of Elephanta, sprawled over an area of approximately
5000 square metres, is reached by climbing a flight of more than 100 steps,
to the top of a hill. inside the temple, is a large pillared hall with rows
of columns, that appear to hold up the roof of the cave.
Cross beams complete the illusion of a ceiling. One's attention is immediately
drawn to the series of marvellous sculptured panels, nine in all, which are
set like tableaux on the walls. Little is known about the architects and sculptors,
who worked on this gem of ancient architecture.
What is almost tangible is their intense faith, which seems to create an energy
field in the cave premises. Each of the panel captures the volatility of Shiva's
essentially paradoxic nature, and the magical interplay of light and shade,
only intensifies the overall effect.
The northern coastline of Bombay. reminds you of the changing industrial and
technological scene. Attendant gulls hover motionless overhead, an occasional
fish leaps out of the wake furrowing behind it is a pleasant hour and 15 minutes
to Elephanta.
Once known as Puri - later Gharapuri - this island was the proud capital of
a powerful coastal kingdom and the great cave shrine in praise of Shiva, excavated
in the sixth century, added to the ruling dynasty. Several centuries later the
Portugese took possession of the island.
They found monolithic stone elephant at the place where they landed and also
named this a ilha do elephanta, island of the elephant. There was a stone horse
too, a little further, which has a vanished without a trace.
The Portugese built a fort here with a watchtower, hoisting up to flag to ward
off Aattacks by pirates boats. Did they use the caves for target practice? Or
did they deliberately desecrate the sculptures? Antonio Bocarro, Portugese chronicler
of the 17th century described Elephanta vividity and made special mention of
the cistern of water in the western cave: "There is also a large and deep
tank of water without which the heathens of the East never build their pagodas;
because among their other abominations they believe that water purifies and
cleanses them".
Destination Maharashtra - Elephanta, West
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