Dhenugal of Aarey - The land grant relics from medieval times

Aarey forest lies on the fringes of Sanjay Gandhi National park, It became a hub of dairy industry when Dara Nusserwanji Khurody, milk commissioner of Bombay established Aarey milk colony in 1949-50. Aarey today acts as a buffer between the city and the forest of SGNP, one of the few green spaces left in the city. The road dissecting the Aarey forest provides easy connectivity between the western and eastern suburbs. But within the forest of Aarey lies close to over 25 settlements of the indigenious tribal hamlets or locally known as "padas", The tribals who have inhabited the forest for many generations and centuries. Marol - a locality today near Aarey was an area that has been inhabited in pre Portuguese era also. It is said that Marol was the economic capital during the Shilahara dynasty which ruled North Konkan during 8th to 12th century. It is also said that Raja Bimbdev from 13th century who established his kingdom and capital Mahikhavati at present day Mahim is also said to have shifted his palace and capital to Marol area later.

An exploration and survey done by students of MU found treasure trove of of relics, old settlements and tribal artificates making Aarey and areas around it like Marol an important archeological site which could help us in constructing the history of Mumbai city. It also provides an insight about the ancient trade routes which the forest as well few areas like Marol, Prajapur were part of. Many of these relics found here have been used by the tribals and locals as statues of deities and worshipped for generations. 

The focus of this post is to highlight an important stone relic that has been found at multiple places in and around Aarey, "Dhenugal". These are land grant edicts depicting a cow nuturing her calf. It signifies that the ruler would nurture or care for his subject or people who have received this land grants just like the cow taking care of her calf.  The relics have been worshipped today as motif of fertility. Though its most likely that these relics may have been shifted from its original location and became part of neighbourhood shrines and worshipped as deities.

An ancient temple within Aarey is Takreshwar Mahadev temple, It is said that the Shiva Linga is self manifested here. Among the multiple shrines in this temple lies a Dhenugal, painted in orange, It is worshipped as Ganesha. 

Within the forest of Aarey, lies a state guest house on a hillock which is used by the bureaucrates and politicians. The guest house courtyard has two ancient stone relics one of them is a Dhenugal.

Adarsh Nagar in Marol locality is today a mix of high rise buildings and low income group settlement which is now become kind of slum settlement. Here as well in the premises of Ganesha temple lies a Dhenugal which is worshipped as deity by the locals.

Aarey was declared milk colony in 50's, lands were allotted for building buffalo stables that provide the steady supply milk to the city. Near one of the stable - Unit 19, stands yet another Dhenugal. The story goes that the owner of the stable had found this relic near by and decided to install it outside his unit. The relic proved lucky for him and it seems he has prospered since. The relic is now jealously guarded and worshipped by the stable owner.

Yet another Dhenugal lies in the fields of Aarey near Marol. It is part of a small shrine and worshipped as motif of fertility. Though Dhenugal edicts have been found at many places across Mumbai and its suburbs but Aarey byfar takes the onus of being the area where maximum number of land grant edicts or Dhenugal have been found so far.