ELEPIIANTA, a small mountain isle, with a double top, wooded to the summit. It is situated about 5 miles in an easterly direction from Bombay, and is not more than 5 miles in circumference. Its proper name is Gali.
Pouri ; hut Europeans call it Elephanta, from the figure of au elephant, as large as life, conspicuous in black stone near the shore, and apparently cut from the rock on which it stands. A neat village near the landing place contains all the inhabitants of the island. They are un der British protection, and pay 56/. annually to the Born bay government.
But the spot is only deserving of notice, from its ex hibiting, with the exception of the caves of Ellora, per haps unrivalled monuments of labour and superstitious zeal. The cave of Elephanta, as it is commonly called, has furnished ample materials for the curiosity and re search of the student of eastern antiquities The my thological symbols and sculpture have been traced to be of Hindoo origin and execution ; but their date is lost in fable and obscurity. Whatever mixture of Egyptian or Ethiopian extraction may have been engrafted on the stock of Ilindoo mythology, undoubtedly the Brahmins can claim a large portion of their system of theology to be of no foreign offspring, but the result of their own subtilty and invention. How vain must it be, at a re mote period of time, to attempt to account for the origin and variety of the symbols of worship of a nation sunk in idolatry, since the dreams of enthusiasm, the fictions of poetry, the caprice of princes, the craft of priests, and the boundless powers of human imagination, all conspire to raise and embellish the shrines of supersti tion, and to propagate delusion and absurdity ! We shall give our readers such account of the monuments at Elephanta, as are drawn from the most authentic sour ces, and relations of travellers who have repaired to the spot.
The cave, about three quarters of a mile from the beach, is approached by an ascent through romantic passes of the mountain, and bursts unexpectedly upon th, t ye. A spacious excavation in the solid rock of 135 feet in length, by an equal breadth, presents a magnifi cent spectacle of elaborate sculpture and mythological emLei,is ,meat. The roof is supported by pillars of the
rock tat standing ; their order is uncommon, but effect ayt cable. Toe reader is referred to the article of CIVIL. ARC HI1 ECTURE in this work, for a Plate illustrative of pat t of the interior of the cave, Plate CLI. The figures which decorate the walls are in relief so prominent, that they are attached to the rock only by the back. Gigantic forms are observed, some with aspects of benignity, others with looks of terror. Neither in design or exe cution can the sculpture be compared to the monu ments of Grecian art ; but it much surpasses in ele gance, the Egyptian models, and the bas reliefs from the ruins of Persepolis. The upper extremity of the cave is chiefly distinguished by the profusion of figures. Here, the most striking is a bust 18 feet high, of a fi gure with three heads, expressive of that being of whom the Hindoos had the most sublime conceptions. The middle head represents Brahma, or the creative attribute ; the head on the left, Vishnoo, or the pre serving ; and on the right, Seva the destroying, or changing. Bralna's face is represented full, with a look of dignity and composure ; his head and neck pro fusely covered with ornaments. The face of Vishnoo is in profile, with, likewise, a complacent regard, and a richly decorated head. One hand bears a lotus flower, the other a fruit resembling a pomegranate ; on one of his wrists is seen a ring, as worn by the Hindoos at present. Sera, on the contrary, frowns with a terrific countenance in profile, Nvith projecting forehead, and staring eyes. Snakes supply the place of hair ; and the representation of a human scull is conspicuous on the covering of the head. One hand grasps a monstrous Cobra di Capella, the other a smaller one ; the whole calculated to strike terror and amazement ; the length, from the crown of the head to the chin, is 6 feet, exclu sive of the cap, which is 3 feet more.