PANDAVGARH CAVES, Dhavdi
17.933300,73.850000
Description
»There are a few rock-cut caves [man-made, rock-cut chambers] at Pandavgarh, situated on a small south-east projection of the fort within the limits of Dhavdi village« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 19: 389). ETYMOLOGY: Pandavgad (Marathi) is the same as Pandavgarh (Hindi), namely the house or fortress of the Pandavas or Pandu brothers (note 1). SITUATION: On a relatively »small spur« (note 2) forming a south-east projection of the fortified hill of Pandavgad getaway2india.wordpress.com (accessed 2012.03.31); en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panchgani (accessed 2012.03.31) Pandavgarh India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 90 C4); IMPERIAL GAZETTEER (1907-1909, 19: 389), AMS sheet NE-43-10 Satara (U502 series, 1960 edition); nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003) Pandu Fort IMPERIAL GAZETTEER (1907-1909, 19: 389) Pandugarh Fort nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003) which is the "garh" (note 3) which lies about 12 km in a direct line approximately north-east of Mahabaleshwar (43). (note 3). The IMPERIAL GAZETTEER (1907-1909, 19: 389) places »Pandavgarh (or Pandu Fort)« near N18°00': E73°45': 4177 feet (1273 m asl) and at a travelling distance of »4 miles« (about 6 km) north-west of Wai (note 4). nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003) positions not only »Pandavgarh« but also »Pandugarh Fort« near N17°59': E073°51' (WGS84) and thus at a spot which lies 19 km in a direct line ENE of Mahableshwar. The AMS sheet NE-43-10 Satara (U502 series, 1960 edition) indicates »Pandavgarh« near N17°59': E073°53' and thus at a linear distance of 22 km ENE of Mahableshwar. The India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 90 C4) indicates »Pandavgarh« west of the National Highway NH 4 and next to the symbol for a »fort« a little north-west of Wai. CAVE DESCRIPTION: »The first [of the Pandavgad caves] is a flat roofed chapel or chaitya [note 5] about twenty-one feet [6.4 m] by seven [2.1 m wide] and about twelve to fourteen feet [3.6 m to 4.3 m] high. An arched entrance blocked up with mud and stones leads to a relic shrine or daghoba [note 6] four and half feet [1.37 m] in diameter and six feet [1.8 m] high. Close by is another cave seven feet square [2.1 m by 2.1 m], also flat-roofed with an arched entrance and containing a mutilated stone instead of the daghoba which is three feet [0.9 m] in diameter at the base and scarcely a foot at the top. East of Cave II is an eight-celled dwelling cave about thirty-five feet square [10.7 m] and five feet [1.5 m] high. The floor has been much silted up with earth brought in by rain water. The original height, as seen from the outside, was probably eight feet [2.45 m]. The roof is flat and the rock overhangs four feet making a verandah [note 7] with an entrance in its back wall about eight feet [2.45 m] wide. The cells are two each on the east and west and four on the north, and there is a bed shelf all round« (getaway2india.wordpress.com accessed 2012.03.31). CULTURAL HISTORY - tale: »… the Devil's Kitchen [–>Bhim Chula, Panchgani] has a mythology associated with it: It is believed that the Pandavas of the Mahabharat epic had stayed here for a while. Pandavgad Caves (near Wai) are also said to be built by them then« (Anonymous, undated, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panchgani accessed 2012.03.31).NOTE 5: chaitya (Hindi), from cetiya (Pakrit), troglodyte monastic assembly hall / chapel; functionally the most important and artistically the most sumptuous part of a monastic troglodyte settlement. NOTE 6: »dagoba -- Buddhist monument composed of a solid hemisphere containing relics of the Buddha or a Buddhist saint; also called stupa« (LONELY PLANET, Sri Lanka 2003: 292). »Dagop -- A Buddhist temple, or sepulchral edifice in Ceylon« (HAMILTON, W 1828, 2: 723).»Dagoba, from Dhatu-garba [dhatu garbha], womb, or receptacle of a relic« (FORBES 1840, 1: 220 note). »Daagoba, i.e. Dhata-garba, a womb or receptacle for a relic; a monument containing either a corporeal relic of, or an utensil which had been used by Budha« (FORBES 1840, 2: 387 note; 1841, 2: 337 note). »Sairuwawilla dagoba [Seruwawila N08°22': E081°19'] … this great pile in honour …« (FORBES 1840, 2: 227; 1841, 2: 222). »A dagaba is a solid mound built to contain relics of Buddha, or important personages, especially monks, or sometimes only to commemorate an event which occurred at the site. It is usually a semi-globe or a bell in shape, with a terminal spire; but there are other forms« (PARKER 1909: 27 note). NOTE 7: veranda (Hindi) a roofed but open pillared gallery along the outside of a house, level with the ground floor. Origin: early 18th century "veranda" (English) from "varanda" (Portuguese) from "varanda" (Hindi) or "baranda" (Bengali), railing, balustrade. 1498 »E vêo ter comnosco onde estavamos lançados, em huma varanda onde estava hum grande castiçall d'arame que nos alumeava« (VELHO, A 1838 edited 1861: 62). 1754 »… the voranda or open gallery …« (IVES 1793: 45). 1783 »You are conducted by a pretty steep ascent up the side of a rock, to the door of the cave, which enters from the North. By it you are led first of all into a feerandah or piazza which stands which extents from East to West 60 feet« (HUNTER, W 1785: 287). 1828 »Veranda -- The covering of a house extended beyond the main pile of building, and supported by pillars, forming an external passage or open terrace« (HAMILTON, W 1828, 2: 733). 1886 »Veranda, s. An open pillared gallery round a house« (YULE & BURNELL 1886, 1903: 964).
NOTE 1: The Pandavas (Panduas) are five sons of king Pandu and nephews of Dhritarashtras (blind king; father of the Kauravas): Yudhishtira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva; the "good" in the Mahabharata, the Hindu epic focussing on the exploits of Krishna and describing the battle of Kurukshethra between the Pandavas and Kauravas. The Mahabharata is thought to have been composed some time around the 1st millennium BC (before current). By about 400 BC the Mahabharata had evolved into a far more complex creation, with substantial narrative and instructive additions, of which the most important and famous is the Bhagavadgita (in short: Gita), probably dating to the 4th or 3rd century BC, where Krishna gives advise to Arjuna before a great battle). The story centers on conflict between the good Pandavas (heroic gods exiled to forest and sheltered in caves) and bad Kauravas (demons), the hundred sons of the blind king Dhritarashtra. Overseeing events is Krishna (an incarnation of Vishnu), who has taken on human form. Krishna acts as charioteer for Arjuna, the Pandava's military expert for long-range missile tactics (bow and arrows), who eventually triumphs in a great battle with the Kauravas. NOTE 2: »The small spur with the caves is found at about a distance of 300 yards [275 m]. The angle it makes with the main spur should be made for and about 200 feet [60 m] up are the caves« online: getaway2india.wordpress.com (accessed 2012.03.31). NOTE 3: garh (Hindi, Marathi, etc.) literally house; a fort, fortified hill or stronghold ; permanent army post. NOTE 3: Mahabaleshwar (Mahabaleshvar, Mahableshvar, Mahableshwar, formerly Malcolmpeth, Malcolm Peth) N17°56': E073°40' (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 16: 424) or N17°55': E073°40' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003) in the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006) map 90 C4. NOTE 4: Wai (also: Sultanpur Wai) near N17°57': E73°54' (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 24: 348) or near N17°56': E73°54' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003) lies »… on the Kistna river, 20 miles [32 km] north-by-west of Satara town, and 15 miles [24 km] east of Mahabaleshwar. The caves in the neighbourhood show that it was an early Buddhist settlement, and it is locally identified with the Vairatnagar visited by the Pandavas during their exile. … In the adjacent village of Lohare are some interesting Buddhist caves« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 24: 348). NOTE 5: chaitya (Hindi), from cetiya (Pakrit), troglodyte monastic assembly hall / chapel; functionally the most important and artistically the most sumptuous part of a monastic troglodyte settlement. NOTE 6: »dagoba -- Buddhist monument composed of a solid hemisphere containing relics of the Buddha or a Buddhist saint; also called stupa« (LONELY PLANET, Sri Lanka 2003: 292). »Dagop -- A Buddhist temple, or sepulchral edifice in Ceylon« (HAMILTON, W 1828, 2: 723).»Dagoba, from Dhatu-garba [dhatu garbha], womb, or receptacle of a relic« (FORBES 1840, 1: 220 note). »Daagoba, i.e. Dhata-garba, a womb or receptacle for a relic; a monument containing either a corporeal relic of, or an utensil which had been used by Budha« (FORBES 1840, 2: 387 note; 1841, 2: 337 note). »Sairuwawilla dagoba [Seruwawila N08°22': E081°19'] … this great pile in honour …« (FORBES 1840, 2: 227; 1841, 2: 222). »A dagaba is a solid mound built to contain relics of Buddha, or important personages, especially monks, or sometimes only to commemorate an event which occurred at the site. It is usually a semi-globe or a bell in shape, with a terminal spire; but there are other forms« (PARKER 1909: 27 note). NOTE 7: veranda (Enlish) a roofed but open pillared gallery along the outside of a house, level with the ground floor. Origin (early 18th century) from "varanda" (Portuguese) from "varanda" (Hindi) or "baranda" (Bengali), railing, balustrade. 1498 »E vêo ter comnosco onde estavamos lançados, em huma varanda onde estava hum grande castiçall d'arame que nos alumeava« (VELHO, A 1838 edited 1861: 62). 1754 »… the voranda or open gallery …« (IVES 1793: 45). 1783 »You are conducted by a pretty steep ascent up the side of a rock, to the door of the cave, which enters from the North. By it you are led first of all into a feerandah or piazza which stands which extents from East to West 60 feet« (HUNTER, W 1785: 287). 1828 »Veranda -- The covering of a house extended beyond the main pile of building, and supported by pillars, forming an external passage or open terrace« (HAMILTON, W 1828, 2: 733). 1886 »Veranda, s. An open pillared gallery round a house« (YULE & BURNELL 1886, 1903: 964).
Cavités proche
| Distance (km) | Nom | Longueur (m) | Profondeur (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 | RAJPURI CAVES, Panchgani | ||
| 4.8 | Panchgani Plinth and Tobacco Cave | ||
| 4.8 | DEN DINE RESTAURANT | ||
| 5.0 | BHIM CHULA | ||
| 5.6 | MEHERBABA CAVES, Panchgani | ||
| 5.6 | LOHARE CAVES | ||
| 19.5 | SHIVA, Mahabaleshwar (Cave of) | ||
| 20.1 | MAHABALESHWAR MANDIR | ||
| 20.1 | ROBBERS' CAVE, Mahableshwar |