PATALESHVAR CAVE
18.533300,73.833300
Description
A "cave temple" (man-made, rock-cut chamber used for religious purposes) at Bhamburda (note 1), a suburb of Pune (Poona): »Just across the river on Jangali Maharaj Rd. is the wonderful rock-cut Pataleshvara [note 2] Temple (aka Panchaleshvara [note 3] cave), a small 8th-century temple similar in style to the much grander rock temple at Elephanta [–>Gharapuri], but never completed. It's an active temple with many people coming here for worship or simply to relax in the gardens« (LONELY PLANET, India 2001: 757, 2005: 750). CAVE DESCRIPTIONS: NOT SEEN: SINCLAIR (1876): Cave of Panchaleshvara in Moujebhamburde, taluka Haveli, zilla Puna.- 1908: »… the Saiva [Shiva] caves of Bhamburda …« among the »… chief objects of interest, outside the Poona city municipal limits« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 20: 184). 1956: »At Pataleswar, the god of the underworld, behind the meteorological observatory, is an unfinished 9th century cave temple of Shiva, wherein the phallic symbol was installed only a generation ago; some of the floor was trimmed down (although the cave is a "protected monument") as late as 1946 by the donation of a generous wartime black-marketeer and contractor. The Nana Phadanavis once took refuge from pursuers in these caves, towards the end of the Peshwa period, according to tradition …« (KOSAMBI 1956, 2nd edition 1975 eight reprint 1998: 34). 1991: »… the evocative 8th-century underground temple called Patalishwar in the district called Shivajinagar, on Jangli Maharaj Road … A circular Nandi shrine has been hollowed out into a square courtyard, which gives on to an underground temple to Shiva … unfinished because of sudden cracks in the rock: even a Vishnu with protective naga king remains incomplete. A lingam reigns in the centre, and a Ganesh image behind« (WARD 1991, 1992: 54-55). 1997: »Just across the river on Jangali Maharaj Road is the wonderful rock-cut Pataleshvara Cave Temple (aka Panchalesvara Cave), a small 8th century temple similar in style to the much grander rock temple at Elephanta but never completed. More importantly, it's an active temple. In front of the excavation is a circular Nandi mandapam« (LONELY PLANET, India 1997: 845). 2005: »Across the river is the curious rock-cut Pataleshvara Cave Temple (phone 25535941, Jangali Maharaj Road; open 6am - 9.30pm), a small, unfinished 8th-century temple similar in style to the grander Elephanta Island one. It's an active temple, with people coming here for worship or simply to relax in the gardens« (LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 750). 2009: »Set across the river is the curious rock-cut Pataleshvara Cave Temple (Jangali Maharaj Road; open 6am - 9.30pm, Mon-Sat), a small and unfinished (though active) 8th-century temple, similar in style to the grander caves at Elephanta Island off the Mumbai coast …« (LONELY PLANET, India 2009: 848).
NOTE 1: Bhamburda (Moujebhamburde) N18°31': E73°51' (Everest 1830, IMPERIAL GAZETTEER (1907-1909, 20: 184) and at N18°32': E73°50' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003). NOTE 2: Some spelling variants are Pataleshvara (LONELY PLANET, India 1997: 845; 2003: 775, 2005: 750; LONELY PLANET, South India 2001: 207), Pataleshvar, Pataleshwar, Pataleswar (KOSAMBI 1956 edited 1975, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998: 34), and Patalishwar (WARD 1991, 1992: 54-55). NOTE 3: Some spelling variants are Panchalesvara (LONELY PLANET, South India 2001: 207), Panchaleshwara (SINCLAIR 1876), Panchaleswara.
Documents
Bibliography 01/05/2016- Hickman; George John 1876; Imperial Gazetteer 1907-1909; Kosambi, Damodar Dharmanand 1956, 1975, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998; Lonely Planet, India 1997, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009; Lonely Planet, South India 2001; Sinclair, W F 1876; Ward, Philip 1991, 1992.
Cavités proche
| Distance (km) | Nom | Longueur (m) | Profondeur (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 | Fergusson College Caves | ||
| 3.5 | POONE (Brosset 1961) (Grotte de) | ||
| 9.5 | CATUHSRNGI TEMPLE CAVES | ||
| 19.7 | KESNAND (Caves near) | ||
| 22.2 | SHELARVADI CAVES | ||
| 25.6 | BHAMCHANDAR CAVES | ||
| 33.3 | BEDSA CAVES | ||
| 33.3 | BHAJA CAVES | ||
| 44.8 | BANAI, Jejuri (Cave of) |