Elephanta
The Abode Of Shiva ~
by Manju Dubey
|
|
...
| December
2005
Mumbai,
India
During the
early days of Hindu philosophy, cave temples became the symbol of piety
and extreme religious leanings. Many cave temples were made during this
period. At this point in time there was a mix of followers of different
religions such as Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. Religious tolerance and
openness is evident by the fact that devotees of any of these religions
carved out the idols of their favorite deity. So it is not common to find
Hindu, Buddhist or Jain cave temples harmoniously existing together since
time immemorial. The journey to the Elephanta Caves is like a journey back
in time, the caves are remarkably well–preserved.
One such cave
temple is the Elephanta caves located off the shore of Mumbai; it is the
home of Shiva. It is understood that there are three levels of understanding
that are used while encountering Shiva in the Elephanta caves. The first
level is of physical attributes that are visible. The second is the level
of invisible physical attributes. The third level is the level of invisible
mythological and spiritual attributes. The home of Shiva at Elephanta is
the center and most powerful of all of the Hindu Shiva temples. |
|
..
Architecture
And Ethos Of Elephanta
Architecturally,
this temple is more than a cave. As a cave, it is sound and secure but
as a temple it is a masterpiece of art. It is believed that it cannot be
separated from its physical context, as this would invalidate a good part
of its religious power. Everything about Elephanta suggests an abandoning
of the everyday world. According to legend, three journeys must be taken
in order to approach the temple. A passage across water, a mountain must
be climbed, and a cave entered. It gives the worshiper a sense of duty
and preparation to be in the home of Shiva. This is one of the most important
factors of the temple. There are guardians surrounding the temple. No one
that is unworthy shall enter the temple. Measures have been taken to provide
Shiva with privacy. There are three entrances to the temple on the north,
east, and west sides. The inside of the cave is easily understandable.
The area is divided by columns, creating equal rows and aisles. Toward
the west is a square sanctuary detached from the walls. Inside this sanctuary
is a monolithic Linga. Panels deeply carved into the walls are located
on both side of the three entrances and along the south wall.
Concept
Of Shiva
So engrossed
is man in pursuit of higher goals that there is little time for introspection
or reflection on one’s inner self. Reflection on the inside, coming back
to oneself, is extremely difficult, and is a process to be mastered here,
amidst godly energy. Movement from north to south is very different. A
believer passes under the beams, down towards the Eternal Shiva. Once one
has reached the deepest point, they are engulfed in near darkness while
approaching the triple-faced image (Mahadeva, Maheshvara, Mahashamurti).
Whether these are signs of good vs. evil, or past, present, future, this
is the inner sanctum sanctorum. The physical space is a series of circles
from the Eternal Shiva outward. The inner circles represent what is Godly,
and the outer circles represent the outer world, filled with commercialism,
greed, and crime. The inner spheres are pure. The panels surrounding these
sculptures are not random. They are purposely placed next to each other
to resemble the paradoxes of life and energy. The Marriage of Shiva and
Parvati: Shiva came to Parvati in disguise, and tested her. She passed
and they wed. Shiva holding the Ganges: King Sagara's sons were burnt,
and he asked Ganges to come down and rescue them. She agreed, but needed
Siva to break her fall. He agreed, and stood on the Himalayas as the Ganges
River cascaded onto his head. Since then Ganges is considered the wife
of Shiva because the incident was seen as an adulterous act. Ravana Lifting
Kailasa: Ravana (demon king) was insulted that Shiva and Parvati were making
love on Kailasa mountain. He lifted the mountain, but Shiva pinned Ravana
under it. Ravana escaped to worship Shiva for a thousand years. Shiva and
Parvati Gambling with Dice. Shiva as the Androgyne: Brahma, the creator,
tried to produce living creatures, but they could not produce. Shiva offered
to split his body, creating an androgyny. The two forms separated, creating
what we know today as male and female. So we have all the facets of Hindu
beliefs depicted on the panels of the cave temples with popular mythological
tales embedded in the statues. The three physical facets of the supreme
power are well depicted in the idols.
..
Elephanta
itself is like a book. It has a message, a meaning, a portrayal. It may
not be the same every time, and it may not be the same for every person.
That may be why some of the definitions are different in every source of
information. The one thing that is certain is that there is energy in the
house of Shiva. This energy is released by the icons, by the architecture,
and by Shiva himself. The energy of the Linga radiates in four directions,
just as the Eternal Shiva radiates it's own energy. One cannot wait to
be in the presence of that energy, to feel the power, understand the mythology,
and honor its presence.
The following
are the previous articles Manju wrote for the magazine:
 Life
In India Without The Trappings Of Power ~ Getting
Around Power
Jaipur:
A Land Of Color, Culture And Bonhomie ~ Travel
To India
To contact
Manju Click Here
.
.
|
