- Mandapeshwar Caves
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The Mandapeshwar Caves (Marathi: मंडपेश्वर गुंफा) is an 8th Century rock-cut shrine dedicated to Shiva[1] located near Mount Poinsur in Borivali, a suburb of Mumbai in Maharashtra, India.
Contents
Location
The caves are situated in Mount Poinsur, Borivali, a suburb of Mumbai. Originally, the caves were on the banks of the Dahisar River but later the course of the river changed.[2] The name of the neighbourhood was derived from this temple.The Mandapeshwar caves are smaller and lesser known as compared to the Kanheri caves in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivali East.[1] The ruins of an old Portuguese-built church stand on top of the caves. The Immaculate Conception Church is located to its south end. There is an open ground in front of the caves which is used as a playground and parking area by slumdwellers from the slum in front of it. The Swami Vivekanand Road runs in front of this cave.[1][3]
Description
This rock-cut shrine has a number of steps, which lead up to a rectangular forecourt with four carved pillars, which looks into three chambers. A central unornamented sanctum (garbhagriha) is in popular use. The original Nandi (sacred bull) of this shrine was damaged and has been replaced with a new one. There are a few relief panels on alcoves, which include one depicting Shiva as Nataraja and another depicting the marriage of Shiva and Parvati. These have been damaged due to seepage.[1][2]
History
The caves are believed to have been built approximately 1500 to 1600 years ago,[1] nearly around the same time as Jogeshwari caves (which were built between 520-550 AD).[3]
The Portuguese converted this temple to a monastery.[3] A Franciscan friar Fr. Antonio de Porto, founded the monastery and a church dedicated to Our Lady of Immaculate Conception on top of the cave temple in 1544. In 1804, a visitor noted that the relief panels were covered with a smooth coat of plaster and it was converted in to a chapel. In 1739, after the Marathas defeated the Portuguese in the Battle of Bassein, the rock-cut sculptures were uncovered and Shiva worship started. Towards the end of the 18th century, the British defeated the Marathas and the caves once again started functioning as a place of Christian worship. After the Indian independence, the church fell into disrepair and it again gradually reverted to a place of worship of Shiva.[2]
The sculptures in these caves are estimated to have been carved out at the same period as of those seen in the more splendid Jogeshwari Caves. It contained the largest Mandapa and a prominent Garbagriha. These caves were witness to a series of invasions in the surrounding areas by different rulers and each time the caves were used for a different reason, sometimes even for things like housing by the armies or sometimes by refugees. During this period the monolithic paintings were badly defaced.
Most of what can be seen on the walls now are just broken down remains which are sad reminders of its glorious past. The church (IC Church) and its graveyard are situated above the cave precincts. There are ruins of an old structure above the caves. These ruins belonged to a much older church built in 1544.
There are four rock-cut shrines in Mumbai: Elephanta Caves, Jogeshwari Caves, Mahakali Caves, Mandapeshwar Caves. All four caves have the same sculptures. The sculptures at Mandapeshwar were created beginning in the late Gupta Empire, or some time after. Elephanta Island was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 to preserve the artwork.
Mandpeshwer caves have sculptures of Nataraja, Sadashiva and a splendid sculpture of Ardhanarishvara. It also has Ganesha, Brahma and Vishnu statuettes. These works depicted the mythical tales of the Hindu gods and goddesses. Even today an elaborate sculpture representing the marriage of Shiva with Parvati may be viewed from the large square window at the south end of these caves. The caves are declared as an archaeological heritage site and therefore are protected under law.
References
- ^ a b c d e Gaur, Abhilash (Sunday, January 25, 2004). "Pay dirt: Treasure amidst Mumbai’s trash". /www.tribuneindia.com. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040125/spectrum/travel.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
- ^ a b c Bavadam, Lyla (July 18–31, 2009). "In a shambles". Frontline. http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fline/fl2615/stories/20090731261506600.htm. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
- ^ a b c "Suburban Caves Proposal". Collective Research Initiatives trust,Mumbai. September 1, 2004. http://crit.org.in/2004/09/suburban-caves-proposal/. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
Further reading
- Vakil, Kanaiyalal H. (1932) Rock-cut temples around Bombay at Elephanta and Jogeshwari, Mandapeshwar and Kanheri, Bombay: D. B. Taraporevala Sons.
Caves around Mumbai Categories:- Caves around Mumbai
- Borivali
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