The archaeological treasure trove within Aarey forest - Ancient relics in stone
Aarey forest is that green lungs of Mumbai which is standing on the edge of being slaughtered. Agricultural land which was part of Sanjay Gandhi National park, today acts as a buffer zone between the forest of national park and development that maximum city of Mumbai so badly wants to sustain its ever increasing population. Aarey land has been eyed by successive state governments over the years, first it was in name of white revolution that we carved out a portion of Aarey to start Aarey Milk colony which constituted milk factory, cattle grazing units and residential quarters for its employees, then we carved Film city out of Aarey and then Royal Palms residential and commercial complex and now this Metro train shed and in offing is proposed new zoo project and this list continues.... Not to forget the huge land parcel occupied by slums which have also grown in leaps and bounds within Aarey.
But very few would know that Aarey forest has been continuously inhabited by its original residents like Warlis, Mallar Kolis, Mahadev Kolis, Katkaris from the times of Shilahara & Sheelar Yadav dynasties (765 to 1029 AD). Its even more interesting and worthy of mention is the fact that Marol was once a economic capital of Shilahara dynasties as per the research. Few years back Archaeology department of Mumbai Universities with its teams of experts and students of the university and other colleges became relic hunters to get peek into the past and unearth evidence of urban settlement in Mumbai in pre Portuguese period. Their findings produced a long list of artifacts, sculptures and statues which totaled more than 800 in numbers which were scattered across the hamlets (pada's as it is known in Marathi) and villages around Aarey. The rich heritage which lies beneath Aarey colony is all the more reason for us to save it from rampant destruction.
The archaeological findings within Aarey has been published in bits and pieces in city newspapers over the years and one can also find numerous articles online. Based on these readings I set out to have a glimpse of these treasure trove only to find that it was quite difficult to get the exact location of these relics and sculptures as it is not well documented and many a times even locals don't have much understanding, Also given the vast areas of Aarey it is next to impossible to cover even the known ones in one or two visits but here I have tried my best to document my findings with their locations from my few visits that I have done so far. It has been an experience akin to some treasure hunt and the exhilaration on finding them is something I cannot describe !!
Vijaynagar Police ground: From Marol side as one is about to enter Aarey, lies Vijaynagar Police camp. Inside the camp the winding road leads to a temple called "Shree Maroleshwar Mahadev temple". Just next to the temple in a small open ground lies the treasure trove of temple remnants and many kichaks in different positions. It is said that the camp is situated on long lost temple which lay beneath its foundation. The sculptures and remnants which have been discovered lies nicely lined in a small ground under the shades of Banyan tree.
Kichak worshipped as Ganesha: As one enters Aarey from Marol side after the Adani Electricity office lies a Ganpati Mandir near a small lake. The temple as I was told has been expanded in last few years else it was a very small temple. On closer look at the main idol painted in bright orange one can see a kichak which has been worshipped as Ganesha. (Kichak is mythical load bearing creatures which are usually seen on temple pillars bearing the load of the entire roof).
Dhenugal near a cowshed: Just after the JVLR flyover as one enters from Marol, there is road which leads to a dairy farm unit no 19. Right outside one of the farm stands a stone relic - a Dhenugal. (Dhenu means cow and gal means stone). It seems the owner of the farm had found it somewhere in Aarey and decided to install it outside his farm.
Dhenugal are land edicts which depict a cow nurturing a calf. These edicts signifies that ruler would nurture or take care of his people whom he has given lands to just like the cow is taking care of his calf.
Tapeshwar Mahadev temple: On the way to Powai immediately after Picnic point garden there is an old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva known as Tapeshwar Mahadev. It is 2-3 minute walk from the main road. The temple is close to the Metro shed and initially stood close to Mithi river. As per the priest, temple dates back to ancient times. Over the years the temple has been renovated. The main idol of Shiva linga is old and next to it lies a Naga stone which is not a very common sight in many of Shiva temples in Mumbai.
Next to main temple in open ground lies a small shrine dedicated to Lord Ganesha. On closer look it is a Dhenugal (cow feeding a calf stone edict) painted in bright orange colour. Priest informed me that this was found somewhere in the fields of Aarey and locals installed it in the temple premises.
Herostone are memorial stones which commemorates the death of a warrior in a battle. It was a general practice between 8th and 18th century to place a memorial stone in memory of a warrior who sacrificed his life in a battlefield. These herostone's have been found across India and few have been found in Mumbai as well. Sati stones are memorial stone usually shown with a hand of a women. They were erected in case a widow of a warrior has sacrificed herself by sitting on the burning pyre of her husband.
Next to the Herostone on a raised platform lies a Dhenugal, again in a very good condition. These ancient relics were found in Aarey and have been installed as beautification object for guest house garden. The security informed me that these stones are still worshipped and garlanded by the locals who work in the guest houses.
Maroshi pada gaondevi: Next to famous Picnic point garden in Aarey lies a temple which is revered by locals. This temple is village goddess or gaondevi of Maroshi pada. Small open temple can be reached by a series of steps as it is located on a hillock. The main idol of the goddess is a carved on a small stone and is covered with saree type cloth also called chuneri. Another stone which has a Tiger painted on it and is worshipped as Waghoba or forest god. One of the stone smeared in vermilion has been degraded to such an extent that figures on it have been damaged beyond recognition.
The open temple with no walls but covered with tin sheet on the top is surrounded by columnar basalt rocks and has a thick forest cover behind it. Some locals informed me that once upon a time when the forest was much denser and home to big cats. The place was frequented by big cats from the forest. The entrance of the temple has two huge rocks with shape of face of Lord Ganesha.
These heritage relics is just a tip of what I have covered, given that there are as many as 800 documented ancient stone relics within Aarey. Tribal hamlets and temples spread across Aarey holds these ancient heritage needs to highlighted so heritage lovers can explore as well as share knowledge about them which will help in these relics be better preserved.
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