The Great Maharashtra: Caves

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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">About 10 nautical miles across the sea from the <b>Gateway of
India</b> (Mumbai) lies <b>Elephanta</b> also known as <b>Gharapuri</b>. This green island is
famous for the world’s wonder rock-cut cave temple dedicated to Shiva. It is an
ideal holiday place with plenty of pretty nooks and comers and pleasant picnic
spots. But it is more than all that. The Elephanta Caves provide a fascinating
study in the rock architecture and sculpture of India. Elephanta was originally
known as Gharapuri meaning a rock town. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyyX30h4l-LflFs-5sFPnZM4fRvlreTDAt-mWGoh7DFE-NtUiY5c2cec6vnzrey57HlLfl1jUzzWpU92j42tor_4M7EHmLyhB6DqHHIQ5dwzybKhe6oBgoC-pIY3eXWQc0SPI1378iQBK/s1600/elephanta-cavees-maharashtra-trimurti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="elephanta-caves-three-headed-shiva" border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyyX30h4l-LflFs-5sFPnZM4fRvlreTDAt-mWGoh7DFE-NtUiY5c2cec6vnzrey57HlLfl1jUzzWpU92j42tor_4M7EHmLyhB6DqHHIQ5dwzybKhe6oBgoC-pIY3eXWQc0SPI1378iQBK/s1600/elephanta-cavees-maharashtra-trimurti.jpg" title="Elephanta caves : The Three Headed Shiva (Trimurti)" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #999999;">source:</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">en.wikipedia.org</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It had a sacred influence on the
original Indians who considered it to be the island of purification. First we
come across a large pavilion or hall originally supported and adorned by 26
pillars or columns each one averaging about 16 ft. in height. Today some of
these columns have fallen but the majority are still standing. In the hall
there is a shrine with the Shivlinga installed in it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The most remarkable feature of the Elephanta caves is the
mammoth representation in stone of the various heads of Shiva, depicting his
several moods. This extraoridinary three headed ‘Trimurti’ as it is known, is
nearly 20 ft. in height and each of the heads is nearly six feet in length. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
front face shows Shiva as Brahma, the Lord of creation, at its right is Shiva
as Rudra, the god of destruction and at left is Shiva as Vishnu, the
preserve-r. Other images include Shiva’s Tandav dance, Shiv-Parvati marriage
etc. The shrines at Elephnata caves belong to the Pashupati faith. Mauryas and
Chalukyas patronised these shrines. The caves probably belong to era between
8th and 10th centuries A.D. Motor launches are available from Gateway of India
to go to Elephata Island.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Elephanta caves : The Three Headed Shiva (Trimurti)

About 10 nautical miles across the sea from the Gateway of India (Mumbai) lies Elephanta also known as Gharapuri . This green island is ...