All Things Archaeology

I have been meaning to write about this since it was requested sometime during the last year (yes, that long!). My apologies for the delay - I was so excited about getting back to writing the blog, but probably from writing the thesis I ended up having what they call a writer’s block. A few days ago I was reading an article on another blog I follow, and suddenly I felt inspired to write again, so here we are!  The name Elephanta brings back a lot of memories from different years of life. I remember visiting it as a picnic spot with my family when I was a school kid some twenty odd years ago. The Island is located about 10 km off the coast of Mumbai and is accessible by ferries and launches during the day; these can be boarded from the Gateway of India. It roughly takes an hour-long boat ride to get there. After alighting on the pier, there is an option of boarding a toy train which drops the tourists upto the foothill from where the ascent to the island begins. Imagine my excitemen...

Indian mythology is filled with complex characters who are set in designated patterns and narratives. They are all assigned spaces and purposes – to impart a lesson. It is shed either in a positive or negative light. In the Hindu pantheon, it is a common feature for any deity/ divine being to have the ability to shape-shift. Changing forms or avatāras give rise to other beings which are present for a different purpose. This gives rise to more stories and they end up being cultic figures on their own or enhancing the cult of their primary form. One such deity is Vishnu who, apart from being a part of the Trinity is known to have many forms. One of them is a beautiful woman called Mohini. She has been mentioned in a few Puranas like Vishnu Purana, Kūrma Purana, Agni Purana, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata. Albeit small, she finds a rather important place in Hindu mythos.  Legends and stories Mohini is first introduced in the story of the churning of the ocean. The devas and the asu...