GANESHA LENA, Junnar
19.200000,73.883300
Description
Altogether 30 man-made Buddhist »cave temples« (rock temples, rock-cut chambers used for religious purposes) are somehow associated with the Hindu god Ganesh and now, at least in parts, sacred to »… a minor [tribal? mother] goddess, oversheadowed by the modern shrine of the elephant headed god built into one of the larger caves« (KOSAMBI 1960b: 136). SITUATION: At an unspecified location (note 1) somewhere in the vicinity of –>Junnar. CAVE DESCRIPTION: FRYER (1675.09.22 printed 1698 edited 1873 III.V edited 1993: 350) visited the »City called Dungeness [note 2], of like Antiquity and Work-manship, as Canorein ['Caves' at –>Kanheri], cut out of a Mountanuous Rock, with a Temple and other spacious Halls, by no means inferior to it both for Water and other Refreshments, and much more entire; Time having not dealt so cruelly with it, but the Lines of its ruined Beauty are still legible, though in old Characters; however it is left a desolate Habitation for Batts and Wasps …« CAVE LIFE: FRYER (1698 letter II, chapter V, edited 1873 edited 1993: 350) encountered »Batts« (bats, Chiroptera) and »Wasps« (obviously cliff bees, Apis dorsata) which«… to disturb is dangerous, being overgrown and desperately revengeful, following their Agressors till they have Whealed them into Contrition for their unadvised Provocation …«
NOTE 1: Unchecked references: BURGESS (1881 or 1883: 26-36), DEHEJIA 1969b. NOTE 2: Fryer's expression »Dungangess« is possibly a bawdlerized version of Ganesh Lena deriving from something "du" or ""dhu" or "da" or "dha" combined with "Ganesa" (Ganesh). NOTE 3: One single colony (nest) of the Asiatic giant honey bee (cliff bee, Apis dorsata) may hold up to 120,000 individuals and there exists clusters of up to 300 colonies (KASTBERGER, Gerald (2009). FOOTE (1884a: 28-29 note 2) pointed out that »… cliff bees are of very unreliable temper, and the natives are much afraid of them. Though often inoffensive, they are sometimes roused and sally forth and attack with great fury any human or animal they may come across.« Already FRYER (1698 letter II, chapter V, edited 1873 edited 1993: 350) knew that to disturb these »Wasps« (obviously cliff bees, Apis dorsata) »… is dangerous, being overgrown and desperately revengeful, following their Agressors till they have Whealed them into Contrition for their unadvised Provocation …«
Documents
Bibliography 28/03/2016History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1675 May: Dr. John FRYER (1698, 1873, 1993: 350, 365) visited the »City of Dunganess.«
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | MANAMODI, Junnar (Caves of) | ||
| 0.0 | SHIVANERI, Junnar (Caves at) | ||
| 0.0 | TULAJA LENA, Junnar | ||
| 0.0 | Shivabai, Junnar (Cave of) | ||
| 23.8 | HARISHANDRAGARH CAVES | ||
| 24.6 | DEHIR STEPWELL | ||
| 24.6 | NANAGHAT (Caves at) | ||
| 39.0 | ACHOLA (Cave at) | ||
| 61.9 | DHOKESHWAR CAVES, Parner |