Jogeshwari Caves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jogeshwari Caves |
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Jogeshwari caves interior
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| Location | Jogeshwari (E), Mumbai |
| Elevation | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Entrances | 3 |
| Difficulty | easy |
The Jogeshwari Caves are ancient cave temples located in Jogeshwari, a suburb of Mumbai, India. These caves are among the earliest Hindu cave temples in the country. They were carved out of rock around the 6th century, during the time of the Chalukya dynasty.
Historian Walter Spink believes the Jogeshwari Caves are the first major cave temple in India. He also says they are the largest in terms of their total length. These caves are dedicated to the Hindu goddess Jogeshwari.
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Exploring the Ancient Caves
The Jogeshwari Caves are found near the Western Express Highway. You can reach them by climbing a long set of stairs. These stairs lead into a large main hall.
Inside the Main Hall
The main hall of the caves is very spacious. It has many strong pillars supporting the roof. At the very end of the hall, you will find a Lingam. A Lingam is a symbol often used to represent the Hindu god Shiva.
Statues and Sculptures
The walls inside the caves are lined with various idols. You can see statues of important Hindu deities like Dattatreya, Hanuman, and Ganesh. There are also carvings of two doorkeepers. These figures are meant to guard the entrance.
The cave also holds a murti (a sacred image or statue) and footprints of the goddess Jogeshwari. The entire area of Jogeshwari is named after this goddess. Many Marathi people consider her their Kuladevi, which means a family or clan deity. Some groups who have moved to Mumbai from Gujarat also worship her.
Pashupata Connections
The Jogeshwari Caves are considered the earliest Pashupata caves in Mumbai. Pashupata Shaivism is an ancient branch of Hinduism that focuses on the worship of Shiva.
Stories in Stone
The caves feature six beautiful sculptural panels. These panels show different stories and events related to Shaivism. Shaivism is one of the main traditions within Hinduism, focusing on the worship of Shiva.
Some of the stories carved into the stone include:
- The marriage of Shiva and Parvati.
- The story of Andhakasura Vad, where Shiva defeats the demon Andhaka.
- Shiva accepting Ravana as his devoted follower.
- Shiva and Parvati playing a game of dice.
- Nataraja, which is Shiva in his cosmic dance form.
- Lakulisha Shiva, an important teacher in the Pashupata tradition.
You can also find sculptures and pillars that show influences from Mahayana Buddhist architecture. This shows how different artistic styles blended together in ancient India.
Images for kids
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Detailed sculptural panels inside the Jogeshwari Caves.
