The Iconography and Ritual of Siva at Elephanta

Content List of Figures ix Acknowledgments xiv Map xvi Introduction 1 I. Historical Background of Elephanta 4 Before and After the Kalacuris 5 The Kalacuris 9 II. Previous Descriptions of Elephanta and Its Sculptures 16 Early Descriptions to ca. A.D. 1800 16 Nineteenth-Century Descriptions of Elephanta 20 Modern Scholarship on Elephanta 25 III. Mythological Sources for the Elephanta Sculptures 31 Vedic Antecedents 32 The Epic Literature 34 The Puranic Literature 35 Secular Literature 39 IV. Iconographical Analysis of the Elephanta Sculptures 41 Ravana Shaking Mt. Kailasa 41 Siva as Ascetic: Lakulisa 46 Siva Dancing 53 Siva Slaying the Demon Andhaka 57 Marriage of Siva and Parvati 65 Siva as Supporter of Ganga (Descent of the Ganges) 70 Siva as Half-female 76 Siva and Parvati on Mt. Kailasa 81 Siva Mahadeva: Mahesamurti 85 V. Artistic Sources and Parallels of the Elephanta Sculptures 95 The Narrative Reliefs 95 Siva as Ascetic: Lakulissa 107 Siva Mahadeva: Mahesamurti 112 VI. The Elephanta Sculptures and the Lakulisa-Pasupata Sect 121 The Pasupata Sutra 121 The Ganakarika 131 Elephanta and the Ritual of the Lakulisa-Pasupatas 135 Other Ritual Aspects at Elephanta 141 Other Ritual Aspects at Related Monuments 144 Conclusion 149 Appendix A: Evidence for a Dedication Panel at Elephanta 151 Appendix B: The Saiva Aiduka and a Motif at Elephanta 156 Notes 160 Bibliography 217 Figures 237 Index 314