About: Kondivite or Mahakali Caves – Excavated between 2nd to 6th century A.D.

About: Kondivite or Mahakali Caves – Excavated between 2nd to 6th century A.D.

Kondivite or Mahakali caves, as they are known locally, were excavated between 2nd to 6th century A.D. It consists of four caves on the north-west face and a group of fifteen caves at the south-east, carved in volcanic trap breccias, prone to weathering. The entire surrounding was originally an old settlement, including Marol village, Mulgaon and had several fresh water tanks that have over the years disappeared. The most interesting caves at Kondivite is the chaitya cave (No. 9) which has a peculiar plan layout, and is one of the oldest in the group. The inner shrine and stupa are enclosed within a curved wall, not typical to most chaitya caves. This 8″ thick wall around the stupa has a central door with a latticed window on the either side and over the right window is a two line Pali inscription recording, “Gift of a vihar, with his brother by Pittimba a brahman of the Gotamas gotra and inhabitant of Pachi Kama”. A carved panel of the Buddha with attendants and other figures called the Buddhist Litany, is cut of the right, which is a later insert.

(Source: Archaeological Survery of India, Mumbai Circle)

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