More Caves











Caves seem to be in vogue for the White family in 2013. With my Mum still in Mumbai, we decided to complete a long overdue visit to the Hindu Caves at Elephanta, an Island between Mumbai and the mainland.













Although I have lived here for two years, I hadn't walked below the Gate Way To India and the ferry trip provided some good views back the the Gateway and the Taj. The Gateway of India was built to commemorate the visit of King George the V and Queen Mary to Mumbai, prior to the in December 1911. However, they only got to see only a cardboard model of the structure since the construction did not begin till 1915. Project management in India hasn't improved in the past 100 years!






The Taj and the Gateway and the same ferries that greeted
King George and Queen Mary in 1911 and I don't think
the on-board toilets have been cleaned since then either




The ferry was very slow, I think I could have swum faster.  That said, given the pollutants in the water, my skin probably would have dissolved before reaching Elephanta.








Nanny keeping Ada warn on a cold Mumbai morning





After 50 chilly minutes in the early morning air, we reach the Island and were met by Kate's arch enemy,  monkeys!








We advanced to contact
and engaged with the enemy







That said they were reasonably well behaved as long as you didn't have anything in a white shopping bag like one tourist who was mugged at the top of the stairs. I think the monkey was waiting to make the tourist carry the bag up the hill. A short walk up a path past many souvenir shops led us to the Cave entry.









Kate and the columns






The single cave complex has Buddhist, Brahman and Jain influences but is predominantly dedicate to Shiva.  Although the cave was not in as pristine condition as Karla and Bhaja, the carvings on the wall were far more ornate.






Dominating the cave is the huge Mahesh Murti Siva which is a three faces bust of Siva in the form of Mahesh or supreme being. The three faces represent the three functions of Shiva namely creation, protection and destruction of the universe.









The central face with its calm appearance depicts Shiva as the creator.The face to the left, with the severe appearance and curling mustache, much like 1970's Australian fast bowlers including the gold chains, represents Shiva as Rurda, the Destroyer.  The third face represented Shiva as the preserver.  Many of the other carvings represented Shiva with his wife Parvati.


The room containing the Shiva Lingam Shrine


After about 60 minutes at the cave we returned to the ferry for a relaxing and much warmer trip back to Mumbai


The Eastern Entrance to the Cave Complex



Location: Elephanta Island, Maharashtra, India

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