MAHAKALI CAVES, Mumbai: Udayagiri

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Mahakali Caves: Mumbai. These are rock-cut Buddhist caves situated in the Udayagiri hills, about 6.5 km from Mumbai [note 1]. These were excavated during 200 BC to 600 AD and are now in ruins (culturopedia.com accessed 30.09.2002). CULTURAL HISTORY -- rock art (epigraphy): WEST (1861a: 2) refers to an inscription From Mahákal (near Kundati), on the rock and WEST (1861a: 13 item 60) expands on an inscription of two lines, 2 feet 6 inches [76.2 cm] long, on the outside of the circular wall round the dagob [dagoba, stupa] in cave No. 13, at Mahákal, and over a grated window. This inscription is faintly cut on a smooth surface, but is distinct, exept at the left-hand end, where the letters are somewaht defaced … A copy of this inscription occurs in the fifths volume of the Asiatic Researches , but without any intimation of its locality. There has been a very long inscription of small letters, on the inner side wall of the next cave, east of the dagob cave; but only a few letters, here andthere, are legible …there, are legible …