Elephanta - Elephanta (English spelling)

Japanese: エレファンタ - えれふぁんた（英語表記）Elephanta

A small island in Bombay Bay, western India. There are five Hindu rock caves on the island, of which Cave 1 is particularly important. Some say that it was excavated as far back as the 6th century, but it is more appropriate to place it in the 8th century. The plan is cruciform, with three entrances on the northeast and west sides and the main deity enshrined on the south (rear wall). The distance between the north entrance and the rear wall, and between the east and west entrances, is about 40m. A square shrine enshrining a linga (a phallus symbolizing the god Shiva) has been excavated on the west side of the hall. The three-faced bust of the main deity, Shiva, is a huge 544cm high relief, and is one of the greatest masterpieces of Hindu sculpture, with overwhelming force.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

西インド，ボンベイ湾内に浮かぶ小島。島内には五つのヒンドゥー教石窟があり，第1窟がとくに重要である。開掘年代は，6世紀にさかのぼらせる説もあるが，8世紀とするのが穏当であろう。東北西の3方に入口，南(奥壁)に主神をまつる十字形プランで，北入口から奥壁までと東西両入口の距離は等しく約40mあり，広間西寄りにリンガ(シバ神の象徴としての男根)をまつる方形祠堂を掘り出している。主神の三面シバ胸像は544cmもの巨大な高浮彫で，圧倒的な迫力をそなえたヒンドゥー教彫刻の最高傑作の一つである。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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