Elephanta is a dark cave in a tiny island housing one of the most imposing examples of early rock- cut architecture. The entire cave temple complex covers an area of about 60000 sq. feet. It consists of a main chamber and two lateral ones, courtyards and several shrines. The entrances of the east and the west sides form the axis of the architecture of temple. A hall containing 20-pillar lines the axis of the temple. Above the temple is the mass of natural rock, maintaining the cave structure. Massive pillars support the main cave known as Elephanta, with a square base having fluted shafts. And at the inner walls of the caves, various sculptures of the gods from the Hindu mythology appear in almost same sizes.

At the western end of the hall, there is a small place that is enshrining a Shivalingam. And at the end of the north-south axis, the image of Trimurti, a manifestation of Lord Shiva is carved. The colossal 20-feet high image of Sadasiva Shankara is a three-headed structure thus, called as Trimurti, the masterpiece of the ancient Indian architecture. This famous statue of Trimurti depicts the three aspects of Shiva as creator, preserver and destroyer. The head from the left is believed as the life-giving shakti of Shiva, Uma, while the head from the right shows him as Rudra or Bhairava, a fearful figure with hanging snakes in his hair & neck. And the central & most noteworthy face is the swarupa or true self of Shiva, who is calm & serene giving blessings with right hand (which is now broken).

The carved structure of the Elephanta is absolutely marvelous, since the garbhagriha of the main shrine temple has entrances from the four sides. At the doorways, giant dwarapalas and their attendants work as guards. The appearance of the dwarapalas is carved with all minute details of sculptured image. The shrine itself has a meter- high lingam of Shiva. In the main mandapa, at the four corners various images depicting Shiva in different moods are noteworthy. The carving of Shiva as Ardhanarishwara seems to be important as in this form he combines the female and the male aspects in his own self. There is also a panel with Ardhanarishwara, depicting the descent of the heavenly river Ganga to earth is carefully carved. With Ganga the company of her two tributaries, the Yamuna and the Saraswati are also marked here with their presence.

Under this style of architecture, an individual & distinct image of Shiva is placed at the center of the pillared hall. This allowed light to infiltrate the darkest depth of the cave. At Elephanta, it can be said, as the feature of the place is skillful placement of the main image of Shiva as Maheshwara. In relation to the three entrances, it is arranged on such a place that is receiving the accurate amount of light. The light is falling on image makes it as though the Lord is emerging from eternal darkness to serve his blessings. At the place, this image has become the focus of the entire temple as it is placed in a chamber at the end, away from the entrance. In sculptures of the cave, not much minor decorative carvings is seen, & some such carving is employed only to heighten the effect of the monumental sculpted panels depicting Shiva in myriad forms.

With stepping into the foyer of the cave one can notice a carving of Shiva in the form of Nataraja, the god of dance at the right & at the left Lakulisa is sculptured. This image is carved in the Buddhist mould, it shows a 7th century priest engaging in an activity of reabsorbing Buddhism into Hinduism. He is sculptured as seated on a lotus, which is the symbol of enlightenment.