File:6th century Gajasursamharamurti and Parvati bas-relief, Kalinjar Fort 019.jpg

English: This is a major bas-relief near the Mandukya Bhairava site in Kalinjar Fort. It is significant as it is the oldest known carving of Gajasursamharamurti legend in India – also referred to as Gajantak, Gajasurasamhara or Gajasamhara. This artwork is dated to about mid 6th-century. In the centuries that followed, Gajasurasamhara became popular art panel in Shiva temples, particularly in South India. Not only is this the oldest Gajantak panel in India, this panel is corroborating evidence that the Kalinjar has been an ancient site for Hindu pilgrimage, one mentioned in the Skandapurana.

The legend of Gajasursamhara states that a demon took the deceptive form of an elephant to approach his victims. Shiva gets upset that this deception and fake identity, destroys the demon and rips the skin of the elephant – a symbolism for peeling off the fake identity. He then dances on the dead demon-elephant’s head and lifting the legs.

This bas-relief is found to the southeast side of Kalinjar Fort. It is remote, off a hiking trail, past a steep climb. The Gajantak panel is large, facing it on a somewhat perpendicular panel is Parvati. She sits on a small stool, wearing jewelry and ancient hairdo (of cultural significance, 6th century). There are many inscriptions here in different Indic scripts. Smaller rishis and devotees are also carved from the rock surface – a composition and style seen particularly in later Chola, Pallava and Hoysala Hindu temples.