Verified19.2600° N · 72.8500° E · 30 m
Mandapeshwar Cave — Borivali
Gupta–Kalachuri (530 CE)·Shaivite Hindu (Brahmanical)·🇮🇳 Maharashtra, India
About
About Mandapeshwar Cave — Borivali
Mandapeshwar Cave — Borivali in Maharashtra, India is a Gupta–Kalachuri (530 CE) rock_cut attributed to Shaivite Hindu (Brahmanical). Dakshina sculpture cave with Nataraja relief cut in hill now under church floor. Mandapeshwar Brahmanical cave with 6 m Shivalinga now obscured by 16th c. church construction.
Why it mattersKey Shaivite Hindu (Brahmanical) reference site for the Maharashtra
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Rock-cut chronology
- 02Chalcolithic sequence refinement
Theories
- 01Mahayana mural transmission
- 02Harappan sherd seriation
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 530 CE
- Period
- Gupta–Kalachuri (530 CE)
- Culture
- Shaivite Hindu (Brahmanical)
- Purpose
- Dakshina sculpture cave with Nataraja relief cut in hill now under church floor
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 530 CE
Initial construction
c. 1900 CE
Archaeological survey
On the ground
Structures & features
19.2600° N · 72.8500° E · 30 m · 4 mapped features
- Mandapeshwar Cave — Borivali — Chaitya HallchaityaRock-cut chaitya hall with vault and stupa19.2602° N · 72.8501° E
- Mandapeshwar Cave — Borivali — Vihara CellsviharaVihara monk cells with rock-cut beds19.2598° N · 72.8502° E
- Mandapeshwar Cave — Borivali — Façade GavakshafacadeHorseshoe gavaksha window carving19.2604° N · 72.8498° E
- Mandapeshwar Cave — Borivali — Reservoir TanktankRock-cut reservoir or tank19.2596° N · 72.8499° E