PREPARATION of HERITAGE BYE LAWS for the PROHIBITED and REGULATED AREAS of ASI PROTECTED MONUMENTS Pataleshwar Caves Pune
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PREPARATION OF HERITAGE BYE LAWS FOR THE PROHIBITED AND REGULATED AREAS OF ASI PROTECTED MONUMENTS Pataleshwar Caves Pune Submitted to Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Prepared by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage July 2012 CHAPTER 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION The Pataleshwar Caves (referred to as Bhamburda Caves in the ASI notification) dug in the 8th century lie in one of the busiest areas of the central part of Pune city. The site abuts a busy junction and lies in the midst of a predominantly residential and institutional area. Nearby the site is the old Gothan of Bhamburda. The caves, today an active place of worship, lie below the surface of the surrounding ground (hence the name) and are fronted by a sunken court at the end of a walkway from the road. Nothing of the caves is seen from the road or the surrounding areas except from high places on the plots immediately abutting it. A dense canopy of trees covers the site. 1.2 OBJECTIVE While the overall objective of the bye laws is to protect the monument and its context, a few specific objectives of this exercise are identified as follows: 1. Protecting the geological strata of and around the monument 2. Protecting the surface water drainage of and around the monument 3. Regulating the water content of the strata of and around the monument 4. Minimising pollution related deterioration of the monument 5. Preserving the environmental context of the monument 6. Identifying permissible compatible changes in the physical environment around the monument 1.3 METHODOLOGY The following methodology was followed for framing the bye laws: 1. Stating the significance of the monument 2. Identifying the possible elements of deterioration of the monument and their causes 3. Surveying the area around the monument, especially the Prohibited and Restricted zones 4. Documenting the physical ground conditions as well as the prevailing development control rules and development plan provisions those might affect the monument adversely. 5. Detailing the cause- effect relationship between the documented conditions above and the deterioration of the monument 6. Framing specific bye laws to arrest the deterioration and ensure the monuments life, quality and experience. 7. Identifying concerns with new development and framing guidelines for future development to be taken cognizance by the local planning and regulating authority. CHAPTER 2 2.1. Brief historical background The Pataleshwar caves, also referred to as Bhamburda Caves in the ASI notification of 1909 were dug during the reign of Kalchuri Rashtrakuts in the 8th century CE. The cave temples of Bokardan and Rudreshwar in Aurangabad, those in Ambejogai, Kharusa in Latur and Bhandak in Chandrapur were also built under the same patronage between the early 8th and the end of the 10th century CE as was the more famous Kailas at Ellora. Pune as a town only started growing from the 17th century onwards when Chatrapati Shivaji came to settle here with his mother Jijabai. The town thereafter became the home of the Peshwas in the 18th century and developed into a sizeable urban centre during the reign of Peshwa Nanasaheb alias Balaji Bajirao. Somehow, the Pataleshwar caves do not find a mention as a major place of worship during this period. Many temples, including many dedicated to Shiva, were built in Pune during this period. But there is hardly any mention of Pataleshwar caves. James Fergusson in his book Cave Temples of India published in 1880 CE mentions Pataleshwar Caves. The other historical association with the site is that of a holyman Jangli Maharaj (the King of the Jungle) who meditated in the forest near Bhamburda village. After his death in 1890, his disciples built a Samadhi next to the Pataleshwar Caves. As of today, the Samadhi of Jangli Maharaj has grown to a temple complex with a fair amount of visitors daily. The tree cover in the area is considerable compared to the surroundings but by no means does one get an idea that this area may once have been a forest. The terrain too has changed a lot due to cutting of the rocky patches and extensive building activity. 2.2. Description of Monument & the site The cave is cut in a low rocky outcrop such The sunken forecourt is large and contains that it is an underground space. Thus, nothing the monolithic Nandi Mandap carved from of it is seen even from within the site till one live rock. The longer side of the cave fronts reaches the steps that lead down to its the court. forecourt. The cave consists of five longitudinal bays. The sanctum sanctorum is an enclosed room Three bays of colonnades front the fourth bay holding the diety. It has a single entry with two sanctum sanctorums. The fifth bay marked by a pronounced and robust door serves as the circumambulatory path. frame in stone. The fifth bay is unfinished at its northern The columns are on a grid. A strip base end. This is also the darkest bay. Its presence receives all columns in the longitudinal is important for the sanctum sanctorums to direction thereby emphasising the length of stand as detached rooms inside the cave. the interior space. The interiors receive filtered light from its The chief deity of the temple is Shiva and is long front. The front three aisles are well lit actively worshipped. There is a continuous with natural light. trickle of devotes throughout the day. The Pune region sits on the plateau immediately abutting the Western Ghats. The ridge of the Western Ghats here is not very steep. Hence, many trade routes passed through this area linking ports in the Kokan region to trade centres on the Deccan plateau. Trade routes were often associated with Buddhist rock cut sites and this region is dotted with them. The well- known sites of Karla and Bhaja are at a distance of not more than 50 km from the current Pune city where the Pataleshwar caves are located. Pataleshwar is an example of Hindu rock cut temple. It is 30.5 m wide x 48.8 m deep out of which a 30.5m x 30.5 m portion forms an open to sky court. The plan is organised as five horizontal tiers of long aisles. The first aisle fronts the open court and is divided into 9 bays while the fourth aisle contains three sanctum sanctorums. The cave temple is devoid of any sculptural adornment. Traces of panels depicting scenes from Shaiva and Vaishnav mythology are seen. A unique feature is the free standing circular Nandi Mandap in the court supported on 12 columns. The work seems incomplete since there are incomplete portions left at the rear and sides of the cave. The cave faces the East as was the convention for a Hindu temple. At the time it was made, the land must have gradually sloped from the caves to the two rivers which are nearby. Today, this context has become obscure due to the extensive development that has happened around the site. The value of the cave is in its antiquity, as a link in the progressive development of Hindu cave temples and its unique Nandi Mandap. It is also rare that a cave temple is carved in such a low lying rock outcrop so that it may be classified as an underground temple. The only access to the site is through the busy Jangali Maharaj Road. The site has a high compound wall with two small gates. The gates open on a narrow footpath that is usually flanked by dense parking. A bus stop also abuts the compound wall. Traffic flows at a distance of a few paces of the gate. Since the cave is below ground and the road side edge of the site is crowded with parking, the site is hardly noticeable from the road. There are many passer-bys who are unaware of this site. 2.3. Notification Details and drgs No 1230- In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904 (VII of 1904), the Governor in Council is pleased to declare the following ancient monuments in the Poona District to be protected monuments within the meaning of the said Act:- Serial No. Place where the monument is Name or Class of situated description of monument or the monument other remarks Taluka Town or village 11 Haveli Poona The Cave II (a) Temple of Bhamburda 2.4. Significances Architectural Significance: Cave temples in this region are usually carved on natural or manmade scarps of hills. Pataleshwar though is carved in a rocky outcrop on land that does not rise even a few meters above its surroundings. It is a rare example of a cave temple carved in such a low lying rock outcrop that it may be classified as an underground temple. It is an improvisation on the plan of a cave temple since it achieves its large size with a larger width than depth thereby improving the light penetration inside. Historical Significance: It belongs to the 8th century CE and is contemporary with a lot of other significant caves in Maharashtra including Ellora. It is associated with the Kalchuri Rashtrakuts who were the most powerful rulers in this region at that time. The caves are much older than the city of Pune and its other historical monuments. Archaeological Significance: This 8th century CE cave temple was carved out during the reign of the Rashtrakuts in this region. It is carved unusually, below the ground surface and hence its name Pataleshwar. The cave shows traces of sculpted panels depicting mythological scenes but all of these are badly weathered.