A natural heritage walk through Kanheri Caves will introduce participants to the lesser-known Buddhist history of the city
A 22 ft-tall sculpture of Buddha in Cave No 3. PIC COURTESY/SHARAD CHANDRA
Have you been living under a rock? Dr Suraj Pandit, who will lead a walk through the Kanheri Caves this weekend, believes the answer is a resounding yes. Pandit, a PhD scholar and head of department of Ancient Indian culture and Buddhist studies, Sathaye College, Vile Parle, will take participants through the cave complex inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park. It consists of over 110 rock-cut caves and monuments that act as a window to the first century BC — the age of Buddhist monastic settlements in the area.
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Dr Suraj Pandit
“The caves narrate the story of the first 1,500 years of Mumbai’s history. With more than 200 panels spread across the cave complex, it is one of the biggest repositories of cultural knowledge, and it’s right in our backyard. Yet, many of us remain unaware of the stories behind them,” he shares, adding that upon close inspection, one can even find Pahlavi inscriptions from the 11th century AD and a few Japanese inscriptions.
Pandit informs us that beyond inscriptions and sculptures, there also existed prayer halls, meditation spaces and libraries, all hosted in the cave complex. For instance, the scholar notes that Cave 11 is one of the only two structures of its kind to have ever existed in South Asia. “It’s a huge hall with benches arranged parallel to each other. Studies suggest that monks following the Mahayana philosophy of Buddhism might have used the space as a library or a meditation space,” he adds.
“We often speak about the history of the city considering the Portuguese settlements of the 15th century AD as a pivotal point. Our aim is to transport participants to an era preceding that, and get them to talk about the history of the city they hold so dearly,” he concludes.
On: February 4; 6.45 am
Meeting point: Main Gate, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali East.
Call: 9821120494 (to register)
Cost: Rs 1,300 (members), Rs 1,400 (non-members)
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