Elephanta Caves
The northern coastline of Bombay. reminds you of the changing industrial and
technological scene. Attendant gulls hover motionless overhead, an occasional
fish leaps out of the wake furrowing behind it is a pleasant hour and 15 minutes
to Elephanta.
Once known as Puri - later Gharapuri - this island was the proud capital of
a powerful coastal kingdom and the great cave shrine in praise of Shiva, excavated
in the sixth century, added to the ruling dynasty. Several centuries later the
Portugese took possession of the island. They found monolithic stone elephant
at the place where they landed and also named this a ilha do elephanta, island
of the elephant. There was a stone horse too, a little further, which has a
vanished without a trace.
The Portugese built a fort here with a watchtower, hoisting up to flag to ward
off Aattacks by pirates boats. Did they use the caves for target practice? Or
did they deliberately desecrate the sculptures? Antonio Bocarro, Portugese chronicler
of the 17th century described Elephanta vividity and made special mention of
the cistern of water in the western cave: "There is also a large and deep
tank of water without which the heathens of the East never build their pagodas;
because among their other abominations they believe that water purifies and
cleanses them".
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