East Wing of Main Cave: Garbhagriha (Inner Sanctum)

Façade and Shiva Linga of the Garbhagriha
The East Wing of Elephanta Main Cave (Cave 1) is also a shrine dedicated to Shiva. The garbhagriha (inner sanctum) of this shrine is a cubicle measuring roughly 14 ft by 16 ft and is carved into the rear wall of the portico. The image shows the garbhagriha with the Shiva Linga inside.

Unlike the garbhagriha of the Main Hall, which has four doors, this garbhagriha has a only one door, and faces north.

As seen in the image, the door is richly adorned, its frame carved into four distinct bands, each sculpted as a pilaster set at a different level. The outermost band is carved with a frieze in a geometric, square-wave pattern.

Within the cubicle, the Shiva Linga is placed on an altar-like pedestal (pitha) directly carved from the cave rock. It is worth noting that the linga itself is made of a different stone and was inserted into the pedestal.

Explore More About Elephanta Caves
– Cave Temples of Elephanta
– Elephanta Main Cave (Cave 1), Elephanta Main Cave Ground Plan
– The Mystery of Elephanta Cave 2
– The Smaller Caves of Elephanta: Caves 2, 3, 4, and 5
– How to Reach Elephanta Caves

Explore Badami Caves
– Badami
– Cave Temples of Badami
– Badami Cave 1, Badami Cave 2, Badami Cave 3, Badami Cave 4
– Durga Temple at Aihole

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