Verified18.9500° N · 72.9300° E · 40 m
Elephanta — North Bay Small Shrine Cave
Kalachuri–Rashtrakuta (550–600 CE)·Shaivite Hindu·🇮🇳 Maharashtra, India
About
About Elephanta — North Bay Small Shrine Cave
Elephanta — North Bay Small Shrine Cave in Maharashtra, India is a Kalachuri–Rashtrakuta (550–600 CE) rock_cut attributed to Shaivite Hindu. Small northern shrine cave north of Great Cave at Elephanta island with linga. Elephanta island with Great Cave Trimurti 6 m and 3 subsidiary shrines on Gharapuri hill.
Why it mattersKey Shaivite Hindu reference site for the Maharashtra
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Rock-cut chronology
- 02Chalcolithic sequence refinement
Theories
- 01Mahayana mural transmission
- 02Harappan sherd seriation
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 550 CE
- Period
- Kalachuri–Rashtrakuta (550–600 CE)
- Culture
- Shaivite Hindu
- Purpose
- Small northern shrine cave north of Great Cave at Elephanta island with linga
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 550 CE
Initial construction
c. 1900 CE
Archaeological survey
On the ground
Structures & features
18.9500° N · 72.9300° E · 40 m · 3 mapped features
- Elephanta — North Bay Small Shrine Cave — Chaitya HallchaityaRock-cut chaitya hall with vault and stupa18.9502° N · 72.9301° E
- Elephanta — North Bay Small Shrine Cave — Vihara CellsviharaVihara monk cells with rock-cut beds18.9498° N · 72.9302° E
- Elephanta — North Bay Small Shrine Cave — Façade GavakshafacadeHorseshoe gavaksha window carving18.9504° N · 72.9298° E
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