Andhakasur Slaughter – Elephanta Caves
Lord Shiva is depicted here in the form of Bhairav. Bhairav means frightening, in this incarnation Shiva is shown marching forward in an aggressive posture filled with anger,
holding the moon and the serpent on the head and wearing a necklace around the neck. This statue has also been vandalized by perverted elements.
The existence of its two arms and lower torso has been abolished. However, the rest of the statue is still capable of depicting the aggressive expressions of Shiva.
The furrows in anger, the eyes burning like embers, and the sharp teeth, the art of the artists and artisans who became the medium in conveying their anger to us, is highly commendable.
Lord Shiva is holding a sword in his right hand. The left-hand holds the body of the deceased Andhak Rakshasa. Andhak's image is slightly broken.
Nagdevata wrapped, Shiva's other left-hand holds a vessel in which he is depicted collecting the blood of Andhak. According to mythology,
Lord Shiva had killed Goddess Parvati for trying to abduct her keeping an evil eye on her.
Shiva Parvati on Mount Kailash
In this statue, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are depicted playing Chaupad sitting on Mount Kailash. Wearing a crown on the top and a thread on the shoulder,
Lord Shiva is wearing clothes up to the knees. Wearing beautiful clothes and ornaments, the hair of Goddess Parvati hangs on her shoulders.
After being defeated by Shiva in the game of Chaupar, he has turned his back on being angry. According to him, Shiva had defeated him by deceit in the game.
Between the images of both, there is a statue of a woman holding a baby in her hands. It is believed that this infant is the son of Shiva-Parvati, Kartikeya.
At the feet of Lord Shiva is the skeleton of his supreme devotee Rishi Bhringi. Being only a devotee of Shiva,
he had become muscle and bloodless after being cursed by the angry goddess Parvati. This entire craft is also in a very broken condition.
Its original form is estimated from a similar statue located in the cave of Ellora.
Shiva Parvati Vivah – Elephanta Caves
On another plate, the scene of the marriage of Shiva and Parvati is engraved. Even after being in a broken state,
the shame and hesitation can be clearly seen on the face of Goddess Parvati.
Ravana lifts Kailash mountain
In this statue, Shiva Parvati sitting on Mount Kailash is surrounded by other deities. Near his feet is the skeleton of Saint Bhringi and in the right corner is the image of the son Ganesha.
But the statue of Ravana trying to lift Mount Kailash, located in the lower part, is broken.
According to the belief, Lord Shiva, pleased with Ravana's penance at some time, gave him an opportunity to ask for a boon. As depicted in the scene,
Lord Shiva granted Ravana the boon of being powerful even after being forbidden by other deities. To test his new power, Ravana tried to lift Mount Kailash.
In this statue of Lord Vishnu is seated on Garuda, and the entire family of Lord Shiva and many other deities are shown observing this scene.
To break the pride of Ravana, Lord Shiva stabilized the mountain by pressing it with just one thumb. Then the breathing of Ravana, who was buried under the mountain,
stopped. He came to know that his power was weak even in front of Shiva's mere thumb. Ravana, on the advice of his ministers, praised Shiva for a thousand years.
Lord Shiva gave him a sword as a boon and because of shouting, he also named Ravana.
Shiva in Yogi from - Elephanta Caves
In this scene Lord Shiva is shown seated in Padmasana posture in the Himalayas. After the death of their wife Sati, she is sitting in a deep meditation posture with her eyes closed in her separation.
The seat of Shiva, the lotus flower, surrounded by divine spirits above and the servants below, is carried by the serpents on the back.
As it is believed, Goddess Sati gave up her life in the fire of Yagyakund after her father King Daksha insulted her husband, Lord Shiva.
Enraged by her father's actions, Sati invoked Adishakti. After burning the body,
she prayed to be born as the daughter of a father whom she could respect. Later he was reborn as Goddess Parvati and remarried to Lord Shiva.
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