The elephanta caves are widely believed to have been carved during the reign of an early Kalacuri king (third quarter of 6th century), who ruled the Konkan area.
The Early Kalacuris were the followers of the Lakulisa-Pasupata sect of Saivism. The Trimurti image at the end of the north-south axis is one of the images that has received considerable attention and various explanations have been given for it. The image, over five meters in height, has generated a great deal of discussion among scholars.
The complex nature of their iconographic, aesthetic and ritualistic aspects considered in junction with the development of cave architecture in general are bound to arouse far greater curiosity in future.[Source: IGNCA]