Ground Plan
The illustration shows an approximate ground plan of the Elephanta Main Cave (Cave 1) complex. The complex consists of three principal sections: the Main Hall, the West Wing, and the East Wing. The rock-cut Main Hall has openings on its north, east, and west sides, each leading to a courtyard.
Although the East and West Wings form part of the overall cave complex, they are not directly connected to the West Wing. Instead, each wing is accessed independently through a courtyard adjoining the Main Hall.
The Main Hall is a mantapa (pillared hall). As seen, it exhibits a great degree of symmetry along both the north-south and east-west axes. Rows of pillars arranged in a grid-like pattern divide the interior into a series of aisles, creating the spacious appearance of a grand pillared hall.
The mantapa measures approximately 130 feet (40 m) from the northern entrance to the rear wall and about the same distance from the eastern entrance to the western entrance. The height of the hall varies between 15 and 17 feet (4.6–5.2 m), indicating that neither the floor nor the ceiling is perfectly level.
The Main Hall is divided into six aisles, each approximately 16 feet (4.9 m) deep. The second and third aisles on the northern side are progressively wider than the first, while a corresponding increase occurs in the fifth and sixth aisles on the southern side. Architecturally, these aisles may be grouped into three sections: the Front Hall, the Central Hall, and the Rear Hall.
The Main Hall contains nine large-size sculptural panels, including the iconic Maheshmurti panel, depicting episodes from the life, mythology, and various manifestations of Shiva as described in ancient Hindu texts. The West Wing contains a single sculptural panel, while the East Wing houses three panels, including the popular Ashta Matrikas relief. For ease of reference, the sculptural panels are numbered 1 through 13.
List of Panels
Main Hall
1. Nataraja Shiva – North – facing east
2. Mahayogi Shiva – North – facing west
3. Andhakasura Vadha – Northwest – facing south
4. Ravanaugraha – Northeast – facing south
5. Kalyanasundara murti – Southwest – facing north
6. Shiva Parvati – Southeast – facing north
7. Gangadara Shiva – South – facing north – left of Maheshamurti
8. Maheshamurti – South – facing north
9. Ardhanarishvara – South – facing north – right of Maheshamurti
West wing
10. Shiva in Meditation
East Wing
11. Ganesha — Remover of Obstacles and Son of Shiva
12. Ashta Matrikas — Divine Mothers of the Hindu Pantheon
13. Kartikeya — Son of Shiva and God of War
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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