MANDAPESHWAR CAVES

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 18/04/2016

Hindu "cave" temples (rock temples, man-made rock-cut chambers used for religious purposes). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1828: »Caves like those of Kenneri [–>Kanheri] on Salsette at Monpezier , but smaller and less interesting« (HAMILTON, W 1828, 2: 82). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1882: »Bombay Province … Salsette Island (Shatshashthi) … [is] peculiarly rich in rock-temples, the most famous of which are the 109 Boodhist caves of Kanheri … The other groups of caves are at Marol to S. and at Magathana, Mandapeswar (Montpezor), and Jogeswari …« (SMITH, G 1882: 258).CAVE DESCRIPTION 1908: »At Mandapeshvar, called Monpezier or Monpaçer by the Portuguese, about 2 miles north of Borivli village [N19°14': E72°51'], is situated a set of rock-cut Hindu caves« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 9: 6). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1993: »Monpezir Caves« (LONELY PLANET 1993: 770). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1997: »The Mandapeshwar Caves, north of Borivali, are of minor interest, though one of these Hindu caves was converted into a Portuguese church« (LONELY PLANET, India 1997: 829). CAVE LIFE: BROSSET, A (1962c: 590) had collected in »February May« (1960?) two out of four or six Megaderma lyra Geoffroy 1810 bats (Chiroptera) from »Borivli … hypogean temple, in a dungeon« and describes this bat as »… of large size with long ears, a mobile head, living usually in small colonies. Individuals are seen hanging from ceilings. They are shy. If caught, this bat defends itself with extreme vigoot and bites severely.«