The historic Mandapeshwar Caves in Borivali are gearing up for the Mahashivaratri. This year, the rock-cut shrine devoted to Lord Shiva will receive a new 12-kg silver 'shivalinga'. The caves are being adorned with decorations, like Diwali. This has been made possible through the central government's funding and local donations.
The occasion of Mahashivaratri will be marked by a three-day celebration. The schedule includes a performance of the Akhand Ramayana on Wednesday, a cultural show on Thursday, and a Laghu Rudra puja on the day of Mahashivaratri.
The Mandapeshwar Caves, one of Mumbai's three historic caves, are believed to have been constructed over 1,500 years ago. They date back to the seventh century. The cave houses statues of Ganesha, Brahma, and Vishnu, carved out by Buddhist monks. It has long been a sacred place for Hindus. Caves also contain sculptures of Sadashiva, Natarajan, and a sculpture showing the marriage of Shiva and Parvati.
Despite the protection provided by the Archaeological Survey of India, the site has long been in poor condition. Funds from MP Gopal Shetty and the INR 75 lakh allocated by the Centre last year are being used for the beautification project. The plan includes repairing the uneven ground, cleaning the temple thoroughly, building a garden, and installing street lights.
According to reports, the temple had turned into a spot for anti-social activities due to the pitch darkness in the vicinity. The temple site was preserved despite attempts by the Portuguese to demolish the caves and later attempts by Christian missionaries to use the site as evidence of a church.
Then, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh made efforts to restore the temple in the 1980s, and the BJP later carried it forward.
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