Monolithic Monumets of antiquity-Mumbai Caves

Background

The environs of Mumbai are a puzzling maze of chequered history a gargantuan megalopolis harboring a cluster of monolithic monuments of antiquity.  Five such monemnets lie scattered : Kanheri, Kondvita (Mahakali), Elephanta, Jogeshwari and Mandapaeshwar,  the first two being Buddihist (1^st B. C.) caves and other three being Hindu (7^th A. D.) caves.  The clue to history lies in a non-descript town called Sopara (Vasai Taluka, Thane district), an extended suburb of Mamba(70 kms.)  This miniscule town on the Arabian Sea flourished as a big time maritime port dating far back to the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharat.

It was im prominence particularly in the Buddhist era, at least two citizens of Sopara are believed to have had a rendezvous with the Buddha in person.  One such personage was Purna(6^th B.C.),  a wealthy merchant turned monk whose vertaim dialogue with Buddha is cited in “Purnavad Sukta, Majjim Nikay”  an ancient Buddhist text.  On the outskirts of Sopara still stands a Buddhist stupa whose excavation is accredited to Pandit Bhagwanlal Indraji and the discovery published in volume XV of the Royal Asiatic Society (1881-82) wherein the astounding relics (3^rd B.C.) have been exhibited.  Also,  the 8^th and 9^th (out of 14) rock edicts of emperor Ashok explored at Sopara lie in the custody of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj(former Prince of Wales) Museum.

The Elephanta Caves

The Elephant island is located 10 kms. from the Mumbai harbour,  north east of Apollo Bunder and embraces Elephanta Caves one of the world heritage sites in India.  Earlier known as Gharapuri – meaning peaceful abode of Lord Shiva,  the site was discovered in the 6^th century.  As soon as the Portuguese arrived and saw the carved elephant on the island,  it was named Elephanta Caves.

An epitome of Hindu cave culture,  Elephant consists of five caves of which the most notable is the Mahesh Teenmurti Cave.  The main temple consists of a large pillared mandapa (hall) and a freestanding square shrine at the west end of the hall.

Kanheri Caves

The Sanjay Gandhi National park, commonly known as the Borivili National Park,  is a miraculously preserved natural oasis in the heart of an urban sprawl.  Situated in the heart of this part, Kanheri Caves comprises of a total of 104 rock-cut caves,  the largest specimen of this style of architecture in India,  possibly in the world.  The Kanheri Caves are the Buddhist caves (monasteries) were monks practiced their austerities around first century.  Caves contain Dagoba Buddhist Shrines with more than 100 tiny cells the Viharas (resident cells) cut into flank of a hill,  each filled with a stone plinth that evidently served as bed, prayer and meditation halls (chaitya),  water cisterns (kund or Podhi),  relic and memorial stupas (dagoba), crematorium and university.  Kanheri is replete with epigraphic inscriptions in pali, sanskrit, even Persian and Chinese that shed light on a horde of information concerning the political, social, economic, religious set up of those by-gone day.

Kondvita (Mahakali Caves)

The Kondvita or Mahakali caves in Andheri East are by far the cleanest of Mumbai' s lesser caves.  The complex is fairly big with 20 cells and caves.  The caves were center of Buddhism.  The new name – Mahakali caves is therefore misleading.  The caves are carved into a long hillside.  One small cave in the middle, houses a “Stupa” inside a capsule like chamber.  The right wall of this cave has a multi-tiered look and was possibly used for meditation.  The other cave is towards the end of the row and has small pillared hall with nine chamber openings into it. 

Mandapeshwar Caves

The caves were surprisingly built by Buddhists possibly with the help of Persians.  The sculptures in these caves are estimated to have been carved out of the cave walls in the same period as of those seen in the more splendid Jogeshwari Caves.  It once contained the largest Mandapa and a prominent Garbagriha.  The caves unfortunately faced a series of invasions by different rulers,  each ruler attempting to establish the supremacy of his state religion by defacing these magnificent monolithic sculptures.  Most of what can be seen on the walls now are just dilapidated remains which are sad reminders of its glorious past.  Centuries after the caves were built,  the Franciscian Priests occupied the cave and built a church (now called IC Church) and a graveyard right on top of it,  over the ruins of a once grand Shivaji fort.  The caves stand,  but neglected.

Karla Caves

The Buddhist Karla Caves lie in the western ghats,  about 114 kms. away from Mumbai. Built in the time of the Hinayana sect,  during the Satavahana rule,  these caves do not actually show the Buddha.  A steep 350 –step climb leads to the caves.

At the entrance is a recently built temple,  accompanied by a pillar from the Buddhist period.  The façade of the caves is formed by carved temple screens,  sculpted with railing ornaments and human couples.  Outer and inner screens form an ante chamber to the main cave.  The panels of the wooden doors and windows are finely decorated with intricate sculptures of couples embracing. 

By the seventh century AD, the Mahayana sect. Took over and representations of Buddha became more common.  At the central doorway,  are the sculptures of the Buddha preaching while seated on a lion-supported throne,  along with magnificent carvings of three elephants,  On each side,  fifteen pillars separate the narrow aisles from the central arch.  The pillars are adorned with the motifs of elephants,  men and women riding, etc.  All three caves also abound with finely carved Viharas and Chaityas.

Jogeshwari Caves

Being one of the sacred Hindu places in Mumbai, Jogeshwari Cave is a 1500 –year-old historical structures.  Long flight of steps leads to the main hall of this atmospheric cave temple and has central pillared hall containing a shrine and a Lingam.  There are several other smaller chambers with idols of Datta, Hanuman,  Mata and Jogeshwari inside the cave.

While settlements sprawl the sunken rock complex,  the slim passage leads to the entrance of Jogeshwari Caves.  The complex no longer has its boundary walls.