Shivalingam

The Shivalingam is enshrined in a cave within the main cave in Elephanta off the Mumbai coast. The Shivalingam denotes the primeval energy of the Creator. For further details on the Shivalingam click on http://www.templenet.com/beliefs/shivling.htm

Elephanta caves

Another entrance to another set of caves at the Elephanta!

Mahesh murti

The central recess holds the most famous and remarkable sculpture of this period known as the Mahesh-murti. It is a colossal bust of the three forms of Siva, the aghora, turbulent and fearsome; tatpurusha, benign and meditative and vamadeva, mild pleasing and lovable.

Carvings

Carvings inside the Elephanta caves

Carvings on Pillars

Seems like the image of Buddha carved on one of the pillars.

Image of Lord ganesh - the elephant headed God carved on one of the pillars in the Elephanta caves.

Pillar closeup

A close up of the pillars 'holding up' the ceiling of the cave.

Main cave

The cave temple is the pride of Elephanta, sprawled over an area of approximately 5000 square metres. Inside the temple is a large pillared hall with rows of columns that appear to hold up the roof of the cave.