Secrets of the Elephanta Caves

The Elephanta Caves, located on Elephanta Island near Mumbai, India, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for their rock-cut sculptures and intricate carvings dating back to the mid-5th to 6th centuries. 

These caves primarily feature Hindu deities, with a focus on Shiva, and have faced significant deterioration over time due to natural and human factors. Discover some of the statues and monuments that are believed to have come from Elephanta, but now are either lost, or held in museums across India and the world.

The statue that can be found at the CSMVS in Mumbai is only a fragment of what must have been a magnificent image of Mahishasuramardini. In the mythological story, depicted in this painting, the demon Mahisha troubled the Gods endlessly until Goddess Durga came to their help. She killed the demon Mahisha (who is in the form of a buffalo) and therefore is known as ‘Mahishasuramardini’ – one who killed the buffalo demon.

Apparently a large stone inscription found on the site by the Portuguese has been irretrievably lost. In an article by the art historian Dalari Qureshi, she notes Portuguese historian Diogo de Couto refers to the inscription in his Annals. 

He writes: “When the Portuguese took Bacain and its dependences they went to this pagoda and removed a famous stone over the entrance that had an inscription of large and well written characters, which was sent to the king, after the Governor of India had in vain endeavored to to find out any Hindu or Moor in the East who could decipher them. And the king D. Laao-III also used all his endeavors to the same purpose, but without any effect, and thus the stone remained there and now there is no trace of it”.

As per the priest John Ovington's travelogue "A Voyage to Surat in the Year 1689", the island also had a stone horse, like the stone elephant, which inspired the Portuguese to call the island "Ilha Elefante". This horse, however, was removed to an unknown location before 1764.

The Vishnu sculptures from Elephanta showcase a variety of styles. One statue holds a conch and wears a looped girdle, while another has elements of Shiva and Vishnu, revealing a fascinating blend of deities.