The Elephanta Caves are believed to be dating back to the time of the Silhara kings who reigned in that region from the 9th to the 13 centuries. Few of the sculptures in the Elephanta Caves at Mumbai are considered to be dating back to Manyakheta’s Rashtrakutas as evident from the Trimurti present in the cave, this sculpture being similar to the three faces of the Trinity – Brahma, Maheshwar and Vishnu, which was the royal emblem of the powerful Rashtrakutas. Other sculptures in the Elephanta Caves which belong to the Rashtrakutas, include those of Sadashiva, Nataraja and Ardhanarishvara.
The temple complex, formed by rock-cutting at the Elephanta Caves in Mumbai, India, extends over an area of about 60,000 sq. ft and includes a large chamber, two lateral chambers, courtyards and other temples. This famous historic site in Mumbai features dexterously sculpted sculptures, reliefs and a temple of Lord Shiva, these caves being axed down from hard rock. The Trimurti Sadashiva is the main structure in the caves cut up in relief at one extremity. The face at the right of the 20 ft high image of Trimurti reveals Shiva as a young man with intense lips, personifying life and its vivacity. He holds in his hand something like a rose bud – a symbol of life. This face bears similarity with Brahma, the creator of Vamadeva or Uma. The face on the left side shows Shiva as an angry young man depicting him as Aghora Bhairava. The face in the middle shows him as Lord Vishnu, the preserver or Shiva as Yogeshwar – the yogi.
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