Dvarapala to the Right of the Garbhagriha
Situated on the right side (i.e., west) of the garbhagriha (inner sanctum), this large, exquisitely carved sculptural relief depicts a dvarapala (guardian of the door — dvara meaning “door,” pala meaning “guard”) accompanied by a dwarf attendant (Shiva’s gana) on the right side.
Unlike the dvarapala on the eastern side, only the lower portion of this relief is mostly damaged. The central figure, the dvarapala, remains largely intact except for the mutilated legs and one missing hand. It also appears that a gana once existed on the left side, though only faint traces of this figure survive.
The dvarapala is chaturbhuja (four-armed), although the front right hand is missing. The remaining right hand is raised and appears to hold a serpent. The elbow of the front left hand rests gently above the attendant, while the rear left hand is raised and holds a small piece of cloth, whose folds are clearly visible.
The dvarapala stands elegantly, with his right leg stretched slightly to the right, giving the impression of a relaxed stance. His face is largely intact except for a broken nose, and he sports a mustache. The unusually thick lower lip adds to his serene expression. His head is crowned with an elaborate jatamukuta — a headdress of matted hair tied into a beautifully arranged knot, with locks flowing over the left shoulder. Behind his head is a halo, and a long, sword-like object extends down his back.
The dwarf attendant is relatively well preserved, except for minor damage to the legs and hands.
Flying above the dvarapala are two male figures, one on each side of the head, likely celestial beings. The figure on the right appears to carry an object on its back.
The corridor on the left is the pradakshina patha (circumambulatory path) that surrounds the garbhagriha. It emerges on the opposite side of the sanctum, where a similar sculptural relief depicting another dvarapala is carved beside the corridor entrance. When viewed from the front of the shrine, the garbhagriha appears guarded by two large dvarapalas standing on either side, separated by the narrow corridor (approximately 8 feet wide) used by devotees to perform pradakshina (circumambulation) around the sanctum.
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
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– 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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