JOGESHWARI CAVES

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 29/03/2016

The 3rd (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 19: 200) or 2nd most voluminous man-made, rock chamber ("cave" temple) in India has a columned verandah (WEST, W D 1861a: 14 item 63) and contains inscriptions (rock art: epigraphy). ETYMOLOGY: So far, I saw this rock temple referred to as Jogeshari »artificial caves carved in a rock« (BROSSET, A 1962a: 11) Jogeshvari »cave« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 9: 6; 19: 200) Jogeshwari India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth (2006: 90 A1); WEST, W D (1861a: 2, 14 item 63); Jogeshwari »caves« (WARD, P 1992: 17) Jogeswahri BROSSET, A (1961: 437) Jogeswari »rock-temples« and »group of caves« (SMITH, G 1882: 258) or »caves« (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1982-83 / 1985: 193)Joygheseer »man-made caves« (HAMILTON, W 1828, 2: 53). SITUATION 1907: At a travelling distance of »two miles« (3 km) south of »Magathan [0.8 km east of Borivli railway station] … in thickly wooded uplands, is the great Jogeshvari cave …« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 9: 6). SITUATION 1991: »Just north of the Aarey Milk Colony are the Jogeshwari Caves, but the main 6th-century Shaivite temple is woefully eroded …« (WARD, P 1991, 1992: 17) CAVE DESCRIPTION 1828: »Joygheseer.– A series of man-made caves about one and a half miles [2.5 km] from the village of Ambolee, in Salsette island [19°12'N: 72°54'N]« (HAMILTON, W 1828, 2: 53). 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 1909a: »… the great Jogeshvari cave, a Brahmanic work probably of the 7th century« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 9: 6). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1909b: »Jogeshvari.– Cave, situated two and a half miles [4 km] south-east of Goregaon [N18°10': E73°18'] railway station. It is the third largest of the Brahmanical caves of India, the others been Sita's Bath [Sitamarhi] at Ellora and the Great Cave at Elephanta« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 19: 200). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1962: »Jogeshari … Artificial caves carved in a rock« (BROSSET, A 1962a: 11). CULTURAL HISTORY - rock art (epigraphy): A »rock inscription on the rock … [at] Jogeshwari« (WEST, W D 1861a: 2) is »an inscription on the back of the seat at the eastern end of the columned verandah at Jogeshwarí … appears to read "gahapahika r´-ja" and the space between the last two letters is probably blank« (WEST, W D 1861a: 14 item 63). BROSSET, A (1962a: 11) considers »Jogeshari … still a place of very active religious worship.«CAVE LIFE - bats (Chiroptera): Concerning the Fulveous fruit bat (Rousettus leschenaulti Desmarest 1820), BROSSET, A (1961: 437) mentions a colony studied »dans les temples souterraines de Jogeswahri« (sic!). BROSSET, A (1962a: 11 table) saw in »February, August« (1959 or 1960?) a colony (estimated 100 or 130 individuals) at »Jogeshari … Artificial caves carved in a rock.« BROSSET, A (1962a: 14): The Fulveous fruit bat (Rousettus leschenaulti Desmarest 1820) associates at Jogeshwari with Rhinolophus rouxi Temminck 1835.