Mandapeshwar Caves on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
''The Mandapeshwar Caves'' ( mr, मंडपेश्वर गुहा) is an 8th Century rock-cut shrine dedicated to
File:Mandapeshwar caves & Portuguese churches 35.jpg, Outside view
File:Mandapeshwar Caves Hall.jpg, Portico
File:Shiva Temple inside Mandapeshwar Caves.jpg, View from the inside
File:Mandapeshwar Caves -.jpg, Inside the caves
The caves are believed to have been built approximately 1500 to 1600 years ago,{{cite web, url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040125/spectrum/travel.htm, title=Pay dirt: Treasure amidst Mumbai’s trash, last=Gaur, first=Abhilash, date=25 January 2004, publisher=/www.tribuneindia.com, accessdate=2009-11-04 nearly around the same time as the Jogeshwari caves (which were built between 520-550 CE).{{cite web, url=http://crit.org.in/2004/09/suburban-caves-proposal/, title=Suburban Caves Proposal, date=1 September 2004, publisher=Collective Research Initiatives trust, Mumbai, accessdate=2009-11-04, url-status=dead, archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508102425/http://crit.org.in/2004/09/suburban-caves-proposal/, archivedate=8 May 2009
The caves were originally cut by people who left north for refugee due to Moghul anrachy."An interesting example is the Mandapeshwar cave near Borivli which was once a Buddhist Vihara. It was later occupied by the Brahmans" {{cite book, last1=Kail, first1=Owen C., url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ylweAAAAMAAJ, title=Elephanta, the island of mystery, date=1984, publisher=Taraporevala, page=21, language=en Maharashtra and many of its hills in the Western Ghats fit their purpose. The monks would dig out prayer halls or chaitya-grihas in the caves, while building votive stupas and dwelling places for themselves. Here they would meditate and influence the passing traders and anyone else who happened by. The hills around Mumbai were at the juncture of the sea trade routes. During the occupation of the Kanhneri caves, the found another location where they created a hall of paintings. The cave was created and then they hired travelling Persians to paint.
The sculptures in these caves are estimated to have been carved out at the same period as of those seen in the Jogeshwari Caves. It contained the largest Mandapa and a prominent Garbagriha.
This cave has seen through time, World war (when the soldiers used it), General people used to stay, Initial Portuguese used it as a place of prayer. 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 defaced. After the invasion of the marathas in this area in the year 1739, for years the area was deserted.
Somewhere in time the caves were again discovered, it was under the protection of Indian Archaeology Society.
Most of what can be seen on the walls now are destroyed remains. 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. This ruins is also under protection of Indian Archaeology Society.
There are four rock-cut temples 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.{{citation needed, date = October 2012
Mandpeshwer caves have sculptures of Nataraja, Sadashiva and a 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.{{cite web , url=http://www.asimumbaicircle.com/images/list-of-protected-monuments-n-forts.pdf , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606093840/http://www.asimumbaicircle.com/images/list-of-protected-monuments-n-forts.pdf , url-status=usurped , archive-date=6 June 2013 , title=List of the protected monuments of Mumbai Circle district-wise
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
located near Mount Poinsur
Mount Poinsur is located in the suburb of Borivali west, Mumbai
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian States and union ...
in Borivali, a suburb
A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area, which may include commercial and mixed-use, that is primarily a residential area. A suburb can exist either as part of a larger city/urban area or as a separate ...
of Mumbai
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...
in It was later occupied by the Buddhist monks" {{cite book, last1=Kail, first1
These 6th century caves are located in a corner of Borivali- an otherwise northern suburb of Mumbai.
Location
The caves are situated inMount Poinsur
Mount Poinsur is located in the suburb of Borivali west, Mumbai
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian States and union ...
, Borivali, a suburb of Mumbai
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...
. Originally, the caves were on the banks of the Dahisar River
Dahisar River is a river on Salsette island that runs through Dahisar, a suburb of Mumbai, India. It originates in the Tulsi Lake in Sanjay Gandhi National Park in the northern reaches of the city. The River flows roughly North-West for a total ...
but later the course of the river changed.{{cite news, url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fline/fl2615/stories/20090731261506600.htm, title=In a shambles, last=Bavadam, first=Lyla, date=18–31 July 2009, publisher=Frontline
Front line refers to the forward-most forces on a battlefield.
Front line, front lines or variants may also refer to:
Books and publications
* ''Front Lines'' (novel), young adult historical novel by American author Michael Grant
* ''Frontlines ...
, accessdate=2011-01-22, url-status=usurped, archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130125062548/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fline/fl2615/stories/20090731261506600.htm, archivedate=2013-01-25 The name of the neighbourhood was derived from this temple. It is believed that the name of Mount Poinsur, on which the Saint Francis D'Assisi High School
Saint Francis D'Assisi High School is a school for boys located in IC Colony, Borivali West, Mumbai, India.
Overview
The school is managed by the Franciscan Missionary Brothers, a Catholic religious society founded by Paulus Moritz, a G ...
is situated, is a corruption of the name "Mandapeshwar". The Mandapeshwar caves are smaller and lesser known as compared to the Kanheri caves in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivali East. 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 people from the slum
A slum is a highly populated urban residential area consisting of densely packed housing units of weak build quality and often associated with poverty. The infrastructure in slums is often deteriorated or incomplete, and they are primarily inh ...
in front of it. The Swami Vivekanand Road runs in front of this cave.
Gallery
Etymology
The name of the cave Mandapeshwar means Ishwar (lord) of the Mandap (hall).History
The caves are believed to have been built approximately 1500 to 1600 years ago,{{cite web, url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040125/spectrum/travel.htm, title=Pay dirt: Treasure amidst Mumbai’s trash, last=Gaur, first=Abhilash, date=25 January 2004, publisher=/www.tribuneindia.com, accessdate=2009-11-04 nearly around the same time as the Jogeshwari caves (which were built between 520-550 CE).{{cite web, url=http://crit.org.in/2004/09/suburban-caves-proposal/, title=Suburban Caves Proposal, date=1 September 2004, publisher=Collective Research Initiatives trust, Mumbai, accessdate=2009-11-04, url-status=dead, archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508102425/http://crit.org.in/2004/09/suburban-caves-proposal/, archivedate=8 May 2009
The caves were originally cut by people who left north for refugee due to Moghul anrachy."An interesting example is the Mandapeshwar cave near Borivli which was once a Buddhist Vihara. It was later occupied by the Brahmans" {{cite book, last1=Kail, first1=Owen C., url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ylweAAAAMAAJ, title=Elephanta, the island of mystery, date=1984, publisher=Taraporevala, page=21, language=en Maharashtra and many of its hills in the Western Ghats fit their purpose. The monks would dig out prayer halls or chaitya-grihas in the caves, while building votive stupas and dwelling places for themselves. Here they would meditate and influence the passing traders and anyone else who happened by. The hills around Mumbai were at the juncture of the sea trade routes. During the occupation of the Kanhneri caves, the found another location where they created a hall of paintings. The cave was created and then they hired travelling Persians to paint.
The sculptures in these caves are estimated to have been carved out at the same period as of those seen in the Jogeshwari Caves. It contained the largest Mandapa and a prominent Garbagriha.
This cave has seen through time, World war (when the soldiers used it), General people used to stay, Initial Portuguese used it as a place of prayer. 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 defaced. After the invasion of the marathas in this area in the year 1739, for years the area was deserted.
Somewhere in time the caves were again discovered, it was under the protection of Indian Archaeology Society.
Most of what can be seen on the walls now are destroyed remains. 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. This ruins is also under protection of Indian Archaeology Society.
There are four rock-cut temples 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.{{citation needed, date = October 2012
Mandpeshwer caves have sculptures of Nataraja, Sadashiva and a 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.{{cite web , url=http://www.asimumbaicircle.com/images/list-of-protected-monuments-n-forts.pdf , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606093840/http://www.asimumbaicircle.com/images/list-of-protected-monuments-n-forts.pdf , url-status=usurped , archive-date=6 June 2013 , title=List of the protected monuments of Mumbai Circle district-wise
References
{{Commonscat, Mandapeshwar Caves {{reflistFurther reading
* Vakil, Kanaiyalal H. (1932) Rock-cut temples around Bombay at Elephanta and Jogeshwari, Mandapeshwar and Kanheri, Bombay: D. B. Taraporevala Sons. {{Indian Buddhist Caves , state=expanded {{caves around Mumbai {{Portal, India Buddhist monasteries in India Borivali Buddhist caves in India Indian rock-cut architecture Former populated places in India Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India Buddhist temples in India Stupas in India Caves containing pictograms in India