NANAGHAT (Caves at)
19.283300,73.666700
Description
Man-made 'cave temples' (rock-cut chambers), probably used for religious purposes (note 1), tentatively dated to the early Buddhist period and containing sculpted rock art (note 2) and inscriptions, are situated somewhere on the Nanaghat (note 3), a pass across the Western Ghats / Deccan scarp, about 30 km along the road west of Junnar (Jooneer, Jeneah, Shivaneri, Shivner, Soonur) town. SITUATION 1675: »Wherefore the 22d of May [1675] I left them, and took my way by Nunny Gaot, or the Little Hill in respect of the other [Talghat, compare –>Dehir stepwell], which we saw ounted s prodigious height above us: Hither I came by twelve a Clock at Noon, a far shorter and easier Way than the other: It is ten Course from Feneah, wherein we travelled between a couple of Seva Gi's [Shivaji's] Castles […] By Sunset I was in the Plain … We reckoned to have measured this Day Fifteen Course [about 35 km], most in the Heat of the Day, to the side of a poor Village called Wefnure …« (FRYRE 1675.09.22 III.v; published 1698; edited 1873 edited 1993: 359-360).
NOTE 1: The 'caves' at Nanaghat were not monastic but »official customs caves« (KOSAMBI 1960b, 1991: 184). NOTE 2: »Satakarni belonged to the Satavahana family. It derived its name from king Satavahana (Mirashi, Studies in lndology, Vol. III, p. 1 f.), who rose to power soon after the death of Asoka and had his capital at Pratishana (modern Paithan). It received support from the local rulers called Maharathis, with whom it formed matrimonial alliances. This dynasty is called Andhra in the Puranas, but that it originally hailed from Western Maharastra is indicated by its, earliest inscriptions which are found in the caves at Naneghat near Junnar and at Nasik. Though king Satavahana was the founder of this family, he is not mentioned in the Puranas. The first king of the Andhra (i.e., Satavahana) dynasty mentioned in the Puranas is Simuka (Srimukha), who is also known from a relievo statue of his in a Naneghat cave. We do not know the extent of his kingdom, but it is surmised to have extended at least from Junnar to Pratisthana (Paithan). When he ended his rule, his son Satakarni was a minor and so his brother Krsna ascended the throne. He has left an inscription in a cave which he got excavated for the Buddhist monks at Nasik. The next ruler of the dynasty was Satakatarni I, who is also known from a relievo figure now mutilated in a Naneghat cave. He married Naganika, the daughter of the Maharathi Tranakayira, who also was represented by a relievo statue in the same Naneghat cave. He seems to have extended his rule over the whole of the Deccan and even carried his arms north of the Narmada« (V. V. Mirashi Mahamahopadhyaya on maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Nanded/his1.h… accessed 2005.06.30): NOTE 3: Nanaghai Pass, Nanaghat N19°17': E73°40' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003). NOTE 4: »Seva Gi« (FRYRE 1675 edited 1698) is Shivaji, the aristocrat and warlord famed as a national hero in Maharashtra, who, when the Islamic Moghul empire was as its peak of power, established due to his military abilities, statesman-like smartness and religious tolerance in Central India a Hindu kingdom, which he reigned from 1674 to his death.
Documents
Bibliography 27/04/2016- Fryer, John 1698, 1873 (reprinted 1993), 1909 (edited by Crooke, William); Kosambi, Damodar Dharmanand 1960b, 1991.
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1675 May 22: Dr. John FRYER (1675.09.22 edited 1698, 1873 repinted 1993: 350, 365) passed by the 'caves' at »Nanny Gaot« (Nanaghat).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | DEHIR STEPWELL | ||
| 15.3 | HARISHANDRAGARH CAVES | ||
| 24.6 | GANESHA LENA, Junnar | ||
| 24.6 | MANAMODI, Junnar (Caves of) | ||
| 24.6 | SHIVANERI, Junnar (Caves at) | ||
| 24.6 | TULAJA LENA, Junnar | ||
| 24.6 | Shivabai, Junnar (Cave of) | ||
| 44.7 | ACHOLA (Cave at) | ||
| 72.8 | PANDU LENA, Nasik |