Mandapeshwar Caves

The two Mandapeshwar Caves ( Marathi: मंडपेश्वर गुंफा ) belong to the largely unknown and hence rarely visited by foreign tourists Hindu cave temples around Mumbai (India).

Toponym

The name is derived from the Sanskrit Mandapeshwar words mandap pe Ishwar, which translates roughly to " Hall of Paintings of God" - is meant Shiva - is to translate; but there is no trace of paintings (more).

Location

The Mandapeshwar Caves are located in the rocky and placed under protected forest area of ​​Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivali in the coastal foothills of the Western Ghats, near the ancient trading routes between the highlands of the Deccan and the foreshore or the well-known even in ancient port cities about 40 km northeast of the present-day center of Mumbai. The caves are situated close to the Buddhist Kanheri Caves. The Borivali Railway Station is well served by suburban trains; the remaining 3 km to the east are best accomplished with taxis or motor rickshaws.

Dating

Due to the lack of inscriptions stylistic evidence for the dating of the caves in the late Gupta period ( 6th century ) were crucial. The wall relief of the dancing god Shiva ( nataraja ) probably built in the 7th or 8th century.

Description

The larger of the two caves (main shrine ) has a forecourt, from the left cliff is a small shrine carved out. The approximately 10 m wide and separated by four full columns and two half-columns porch ( mandapa ) has two more - slightly higher lying - chambers on the narrow sides; on the rear wall of the left ventricle, there are the remains of a worked out in the 7th or 8th century large reliefs of the dancing god Shiva ( nataraja ) with several accompanying figures, which resembles that of Elephanta. In the back wall is increased by steps main chamber ( garbhagriha ); side of it, there are two other shrines with almost 4 × 4 m measured square atria. The other side chambers have relief figures, however, are in a very bad state of preservation. While the four pillars are almost strongly washed out to the courtyard from rain water, which also damaged columns are nevertheless still their elaborate amalaka - capitals in the temple interior.

Above the larger cave there are the partly overgrown ruins of an erected by the Portuguese in the year 1544 church, which was built of rubble. From one side wall of the temple underneath a Latin cross is worked out, so that one must assume that the Portuguese have at times used the porch of the temple for Masses.

The smaller of the two caves has not been completed; a porch ( mandapa ) is present, but in a, Cella ' ( garbhagriha ) is missing. The walls inside the vestibule and the pillars in the entrance area are completely unedited and unadorned.

, Cella ' ( garbhagriha ) of the main cave

Shiva nataraja in the main cave