Jogeshwari Caves

Jogeshwari Caves
Jogeshwari caves interior
Location	Jogeshwari (E), Mumbai
Coordinates	19°08′21″N 72°51′24″E / 19.1391°N 72.8568°E / 19.1391; 72.8568Coordinates: 19°08′21″N 72°51′24″E / 19.1391°N 72.8568°E / 19.1391; 72.8568
Altitude	15 m (49 ft)
Entrances	3
Difficulty	easy

The Jogeshwari Caves are some of the earliest Hindus and Buddhist cave temples sculptures located in the Mumbai suburb of Jogeshwari, India. The caves date back to 520 to 550 CE.These caves belongs to the last stage of the Mahayana Buddhist architecture. According to historian and scholar Walter Spink, Jogeshwari is the earliest major Hindu cave temple in India and (in terms of total length) ' the largest'.^[1]

The caves are located off the Western Express Highway, and are surrounded by encroachments. The caves are used as a temple by the encroachers. The caves are classified as endangered as sewage and waste enter the premises. They are also infested with bats.

The caves are accessed through a long flight of stairs into the main hall of this cavernous space. It has many pillars and a Lingam at the end. Idols of Dattatreya, Hanuman and Ganesh line the walls. There are also relics of two doormen. The cave also has a murti and footprints of goddess Jogeshwari (Yogeshwari), whom the area is named after. The goddess is considered a Kuladevi by some Marathi people, and also worshipped by some migrant groups from Gujarat.

Jogeshwari carving detail
Entrance to Jogeshwari caves
Ganesh Temple in Jogeshwari caves
Hanuman Temple in Jogeshwari caves

References

↑ Walter M. Spink; University of Michigan. Center for South and Southeast Asian Studies (1967). Ajanta to Ellora. Marg Publications. Retrieved 19 April 2012.

General

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Indian Buddhist caves

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Bihar	Barabar Caves Lomas Rishi Cave Saptaparni Cave

Gujarat	Dhank Caves Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups Bava Pyara caves Kadia Dungar caves Khambhalida Caves Sana Caves Siyot caves Talaja Caves

Karnataka	Aihole Badami cave temples Pandava caves Mangalore

Madhya Pradesh	Bagh Caves Dhamnar Caves Dharmrajeshwar Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary

Maharashtra	Ajanta Caves Bedse Caves Bhaja Caves Dharashiv Caves Elephanta Caves Ellora Caves Gandharpale Caves Ghorawadi Caves Jogeshwari Caves Kanheri Caves Karla Caves Karad Caves Kondana Caves Kuda Caves Lenyadri Mahakali Caves Mandapeshwar Caves Nadsur Caves Nenavali Caves Pandavleni Caves Panhalakaji Caves Pitalkhora Shelarwadi Caves Shirwal Caves Shivneri Caves Thanale Caves Tulja Caves Wai Caves

Odisha	Udayagiri, Odisha

Rajasthan	Binnayaga Buddhist caves Hathiagor Buddhist Caves Kolvi Caves

Tamil Nadu	Cave Temples of Mahabalipuram

Caves around Mumbai

Elephanta Caves Jogeshwari Caves Kanheri Caves Mahakali Caves Mandapeshwar Caves

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