RIVONA CAVES

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A natural cave complex (note 1) in laterite or tiny compartments cut into the rock arranged in upper and lower levels (LONELY PLANET, Goa 2000: 208) may consist of modified natural caves or man-made rock chambers, which were excavated in some way or another (by nature and/or by man). They must be relatively dark inside because the LONELY PLANET, Goa (2000: 208) points out if you plan to look inside you'll need a torch (flashlight) while ABRAM (2001: 213) hopes they are pitchblack and infested with snakes. SITUATION: East of Cuncolim (N15°10': E073°59') an in an unidentified spatial relation near the relatively small rice-farming hamlet of Rivona (N15°10': E074°07'), which lies at a travelling distance some 5 km or 6 km south-east of Quepem (N15°13': E074°04'), from where it is reached by travelling along the road approximately north-east towards Curchorem / Curchurem (N15°15': E074°06') and Sanvordem (N15°16': E074°07') for 2 km (or so) to Tilamola (N15°13'30”:E074°05') where one has to turn south-east (right) and proceed via Sirvoi (N15°12': E074°05') and Zambaulim (N15°11': E074°06') to Rivona (N15°10': E074°07'). Internet websites tend to place Rivona at a travelling distance of 22 km in an unidentified direction from Sanguem (N15°14': E074°10'), the taluka headquarters, from where Rivona is reached along unspecified and probably rather circuituous routes (generally south-west). SITUATION 2000: Three kilometres south of Zambolim the road passes through the settlement of Rivona, which consists of little more than a few houses and drink stands … As the road leaves the village, curling first to the left and then right, there is a small faded sign on the left, pointing to Shri Santhsa Gokarn. A short way up the dirt track (which comes to an end at a tiny temple), the Rivona caves are on the left (LONELY PLANET, Goa 2000: 208) CAVE DESCRIPTION 2000: In case one does not know how to look, there is little to see, but the tiny ompartments cut into the rock … There's a small staircase cut through the rock between the upper and lower levels of the caves; if you plan to look inside you'll need a torch (flashlight) (LONELY PLANET, Goa 2000: 208). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2002: 19. The Buddhist caves at Rivona is also a natural cave complex. The -Pitha- [note 2] carved in laterite in the cave might have been used as a seat for the teacher (goacentral.com/Goamonuments/caves_in_goa.htm accessed 2002.11.24). Among the natural caves of Goa, … another prominent natural cave complex is the Buddhist caves at Rivona, whereby the -Pitha-, which is carved out of laterite, might have served as the seat of the teacher (whatsongoa.com/caves accessed 2009.10.07). CULTURAL HISTORY: The Rivona Caves are not only said to be associated with the Hindu story of the legendary Pandava brothers and their exile (Mahabharata), but also are believed to have been used for religious purposes by Buddhist monks in the 6th or 7th century AD as trglodyte meditation retreat cells. POSSEHL (1988: 192) lists from Rivona, Buddhist Monastery the uncalibrated radiocarbon dates PRL-546 (modern), PRL-545 (1650 ±134 AD), and PRL-548 (1765 ±134 AD).glodyte meditation retreat cells. POSSEHL (1988: 192) lists from Rivona, Buddhist Monastery the uncalibrated radiocarbon dates PRL-546 (modern), PRL-545 (1650 ±134 AD), and PRL-548 (1765 ±134 AD).