A Guide to Elephanta- A New Light on Its Significance in Indian Sculpture (An Old and Rare Book)

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The first official guide to Elephanta was The Rock Temples of Elephanta or Gharapuri which was published by the late Dr. Burgess in 1871. The account of the monuments of the Island which is given in the Gazetteer of the Thana District was written later in 1882. This was succeeded, first, by the publication entitled The Guide to Elephanta Island, which was published on the occasion of the visit of Their Imperial Majesties King George V and Queen Mary in 1911, and then, by the pamphlet called The Caves of Elephanta which the Bombay Public Works Department issued in 1914. All these publications-leaving aside the books which are published unofficially or privately-are now out of print and a trust- worthy and up-to-date guide to the monuments is needed. The present book is meant to meet that need. Several illustrations of sculptures, a plan of the Main Cave and a map of the Island as well as of its environs are added to assist the visitor. These illustrations are supplied by the Superintendent of the Western Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India, Poona. The map of the Island of Elephanta is based on his drawing No. 1318; that of its environs is taken from the Imperial Gazetteer Atlas of India (1931), plate No. 55.

In describing the monuments, I am indebted to Dr. Burgess' The Rock Temples of Elephanta or Gharapuri. The information which has been given about the Portuguese accounts is taken principally from the Gazetteer of the Thana District. Other books consulted are named in the footnotes or in the bibliography attached to this Guide.

The caves were excavated about the fifth or the sixth century (A.D.) and, consequently, do not contain any specimens of early Indian art. The Gupta Empire coincides not only with a revival of Hinduism but with a wonderful development in learning and art, which, judging by the works of the period, must have been liberally patronised. Whereas in the early stage, Indian sculptural art was marked by a natural simplicity, in the early mediaeval stage which commenced about the Gupta period and lasted till about the end of the seventh century, it became 'formal' and 'cultured'. It was during this epoch that it reached perfection and produced some specimens which rank high among the world's sculptural masterpieces.