BHAMCHANDAR CAVES
18.750000,73.750000
Description
Natural sacred temple caves at a place called »Bhamchandar« (KOSAMBI, passim) and »Bhamchandra« (HICKMAN 1876) were modified into rock-cut chambers used as troglodyte dwellings (KOSAMBI passim). SITUATION: Somewhere along the route from –>Karle (N18°47': E73°28') south-east via –>Bhaja (N18°43': E73°35') to Bhandara (note 1) at a place called Bhamchandar (not tracked down: Bhamchandra, Bhamchander?) in certain Tukarama Hills (not tracked down) beyond Dehu (N18°43': E73°46') and near the confluence of the rivers Indrayani and »Paüna« (note 2). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1876: »Bauddha excavations… at Bhamchandra« (HICKMAN 1876). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1956: »Some …[man-made troglodyte Buddhist monastic settlements], like those on Tukarama's hills on Bhamchander and Bhandara beyond Dehu developed [read: were modified by man] from natural caves, and are marked by excellent microlith sites as well as by the cults of villages now moved down the valley« (KOSAMBI 1956, 2nd edition 1975 edited 1985, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998: 266). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1959: »Tukaram [note 3] … worshipped Vishnu in his own way by meditation upon god and contemporary society in the ancient caves (Buddhist and natural) near the junction of the Indrayani and Pauna [Paüna] rivers« (KOSAMBI 1959a edited 1962, 1982, 1993: 14). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1960: On the way from Karla / Karle via Bhaja / Baja and Bhamchandar (Bhamchander?) to Bhandara »a little further along the route we find Tukaram's caves at Bhamchandar, originally natural caves but now extended by hand in most cases, generally to make temples« (KOSAMBI 1960c: 136 edited 1962, 1982, 1993: 97). CULTURAL HISTORY - archaeology: At Bhandara »… (where Tukarama also meditated), has a good microlith site, Buddhist caves, and a stupa, rarely noticed by archaeologists; Tukarama and his special deity Vithoba have pushed out any earlier cult« (KOSAMBI 1960c: 136).
NOTE 1: There are two places called »Bhandara« listed on nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003) but they are both at unlikely situations too far from Pune (Poona), the home of Prof. D.D. Kosambi: 850 km ENE: Bhandara, a populated place at at N21°24': E082°06' (WGS84), on AMS sheet NF44-11 Raipur, 625 km ENE: Bhandara, a populated place at N21°10': E079°39' (WGS84), on AMS sheet NF44-10 Gondia.NOTE 2: The river »Paüna« (KOSAMBI 1959a; 1962, 1982, 1993: 14) is the »Pauna River« on AMS sheet NE43-06 Poona (U502 series, 1960 edition) which joins —as Pauna River and Pavna River at N18°34': E073°50' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003) the Indravati at the village of Chikhali, which lies some 7 km in a direct line approximately south-east of Dehu (N18°43': E073°46') and 20 km north of Pune (Poona, N18°32': E073°52'). NOTE 3: Tukaram (1608-1649), poet and mystic, author of more than 4000 religious poems, mostly hyms praising the god Vithoba.
Documents
Bibliography 25/06/2016- Hickman, John George 1876; Kosambi, Damodar Dharmanand 1956, 1959a, 1960a, 1960b, 1960c, 1962, 1975, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.6 | SHELARVADI CAVES | ||
| 17.9 | BEDSA CAVES | ||
| 17.9 | BHAJA CAVES | ||
| 25.6 | PATALESHVAR CAVE | ||
| 27.1 | Fergusson College Caves | ||
| 27.1 | POONE (Brosset 1961) (Grotte de) | ||
| 27.8 | CATUHSRNGI TEMPLE CAVES | ||
| 30.1 | KARLA (Cave at) | ||
| 34.7 | KESNAND (Caves near) |