NAVI MUMBAI: A professor of ancient Indian history and his team of researchers have discovered two rock cut Shaivite caves in a forested area near Rajapur, Ratnagiri district, which is around 380 km away from Mumbai. Professor Dr Anjay Dhanawade (45) had first heard about these ancient monolithic rock cut caves (with the Shivalings still existing) from the local villagers at Pangare Budruk in 2016; and so started seriously studying and researching on this topic. The elaborate thesis of Dhanawade and his team will soon be published in the Pune based Deccan College Bulletin.
Talking to TOI, Dr Dhanawade said: `"These rock cut caves of the Shaiva sect are present around 8 km away from Rajapur town. A similar cluster of such Shaivite caves were earlier discovered in Cazule area of south Goa. The monolithic cut laterite cave temple was created sometime around 5th or 6th century CE, and so are even older than the famous Elephanta caves. I find this to be a logical progression, because first the artisans used to build smaller rock cut cave temples, and later built the much grander Elephanta caves.''
