Elephanta Caves named Elephanta by which the island is now known originated with the Portuguese, after they found a massive elephant structure on the Island in the 18th century A.D. This is now displayed at the Jijamata Gardens in Mumbai. The basalt rock carved Hindu cave temples of Elephanta are dedicated to Lord Shiva and date back to the 5-7th century A.D. Island with an ornately sculpted, 7th-century cave temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
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The origins of these temple caves is still quite vague, though there are believed to date back to about the 7th century. The island was originally a Hindu place of worship and was called Gharapuri, until the Portuguese rule began in 1534. They renamed it Elephanta after they found a large stone statue of an elephant near their landing place. Unfortunately, the figure collapsed in 1814 and has been reassembled and placed in the garden outside the Bhau Daji Lad Museum at Jijamata Udyan in Mumbai. Moreover, many of Elephanta’s priceless statues were damaged or destroyed by the Portuguese, who apparently used the Hindu gods for target practice.
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This stone elephant stood at the entrance to the rajabunder Jetty at Gharapuri or Elephanta Island. The Elephant symbolised royalty and the rajabunder jetty was used excusively by the local Rajas. The island is home to some of the most extraordinary early monolithic Hindu sculptures which are carved out of the hill's rocky surface in 540 AD.
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The origins of these temple caves is still quite vague, though there are believed to date back to about the 7th century. The island was originally a Hindu place of worship and was called Gharapuri, until the Portuguese rule began in 1534. They renamed it Elephanta after they found a large stone statue of an elephant near their landing place. Unfortunately, the figure collapsed in 1814 and has been reassembled and placed in the garden outside the Bhau Daji Lad Museum at Jijamata Udyan in Mumbai. Moreover, many of Elephanta’s priceless statues were damaged or destroyed by the Portuguese, who apparently used the Hindu gods for target practice.
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