Which one of the following statements about Elephanta Island near Mumbai is correct?

Introduction / Context:
Elephanta Island, located off the coast of Mumbai in Maharashtra, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its rock cut cave temples. These caves are primarily dedicated to Lord Shiva and contain some of the finest examples of early medieval Indian rock cut art. Exam questions about Elephanta often focus on its religious association, artistic features and naming history. This question asks you to identify the correct statement among four options that describe different aspects of the island and its caves.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Four statements are proposed regarding Elephanta Island. - One statement refers to how it got its name from a large elephant structure. - One claims it contains only one large cave. - One links it to a spectacular carving of Vishnu described in a specific Purana. - One associates the site with the Pashupata sect, a Shaivite tradition. - We assume standard archaeological and historical scholarship.

Concept / Approach:
The Elephanta caves are primarily Shaivite and are widely believed to be associated with the Pashupata sect, which is one of the earliest Shaivite sects. The caves are famous for the Trimurti or Maheshmurti sculpture of Shiva, not for a Vishnu carving described in the Vishnudharmottara Purana. The site actually has multiple rock cut caves, not just one large cave. As for naming, the island was indeed named Elephanta by colonial powers because of a stone elephant statue found near the shore, but this naming is sometimes attributed to the Portuguese rather than strictly to the British. In many exam keys, the most clearly correct and undisputed statement is the association with the Pashupata sect.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Evaluate the statement about the island containing one large cave only. In reality, Elephanta has several caves, with Cave 1 being the main one but not the only one. So this statement is false. Step 2: Evaluate the statement about a spectacular Vishnu carving described in the Vishnudharmottara Purana. Elephanta is renowned for Shaivite imagery, especially the three headed Shiva relief, not for a major Vishnu image tied to that Purana. So this statement is incorrect. Step 3: Consider the statement that the island is associated with the Pashupata sect. Historical and art historical studies link the Shaivite iconography at Elephanta to the Pashupata tradition, making this statement correct. Step 4: Examine the naming statement. While the island's name does come from a stone elephant figure, attributing the naming specifically to the British is less precise historically because the Portuguese are often credited. This ambiguity makes the statement less reliable as a fully correct exam choice. Step 5: Therefore, the most clearly correct statement is that Elephanta Island is associated with the Pashupata sect.

Verification / Alternative check:
If you recall descriptions of the site in standard history or art history texts, Elephanta is consistently described as a Shaivite centre, with sculptures depicting various forms of Shiva such as Nataraja and Ardhanarishvara. The scholarly discussion often mentions the Pashupata sect as the likely patrons or ideological influence. There is little emphasis on Vishnu imagery or on Elephanta as a Vaishnavite centre. This confirms that the statement about Pashupata association is the safe and correct choice in an exam setting.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The claim that Elephanta contains only one large cave is wrong because the complex includes multiple caves, even though one is the main and largest.

The statement about a spectacular Vishnu carving described in the Vishnudharmottara Purana is wrong because Elephanta is primarily Shaivite and famous for the Shiva Trimurti, not a Vishnu sculpture.

The naming statement is imprecise in attributing the name only to the British, and exam solutions typically prioritise the clearer religious association with Pashupata Shaivism instead.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often focus on the dramatic story of the elephant statue giving the island its name and may rush to choose that option without considering its historical nuances. Another pitfall is not distinguishing between different rock cut temple sites, confusing Elephanta with other cave complexes that may have prominent Vishnu sculptures. To avoid these errors, remember the core identity of Elephanta as a Shaivite site and connect it with the Pashupata sect as mentioned in scholarly accounts and exam oriented material.

Final Answer:
The correct statement about Elephanta Island is that it is associated with the Pashupata sect of Shaivism.