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Jaina Rock-cut Caves in Western India has been identified with a number of places. Jain identifies it with Wani in Dindori taluka of Nasik district (Jain, J. P. 1979: 5-6). However, Kolte identifies it with present Vadner (Kolte 1969: 14). Thus, the site and the area around was not only an important administrative division and possibly trade centre, but also a Jaina stronghold, at least in the Rashtrakuta period. It was during this time that the lower two caves were excavated.
Literary references
There are a number of Jaina texts, which refer to the site as a Jaina tirtha. However, all the texts refer to only “Tungigiri' and it is not certain when the present name 'MangiTungi' came in usage. The earliest reference to the site is in the Sanskrit text, 'Nirvanabhakti, dealing with the Digambara tirthas. The date of the text is tentatively fixed before the 13th century CE (Premi and Jain 1939: 182). Here Tungigiri is referred to as the place, from where Balabhadras attained liberation (Premi 1956a: 434). All the other references post-date 14th century. Of these, one is "Tirthacanachandrikā of Gunabhadra (ca. 1575 CE). Here the site is referred to as “Tungigiri', along with a number of other Digambara tirthas (Premi 1956a: 424 Footnote 1). In the commentary on the 27th verse of Bodhaprabhut', by Acharya Shrutsagar, written in the period between 1445-1465 CE, Tungigiri is said to be situated in Abhirdesh (Premi 1956a: 432, Footnote 1). Jambusvāmi Charitra also mentions Tungi as being in Ahirdesh (Akkole 1968: 192). In 'Tirthacanachandrika' of Gunabhadra (ca. 1575 CE), the site is referred to along with a number of other Digambara tirthas (Premi 1956a: 424, Footnote 1). Muni Silavijaya mentions Tungigiri along with Ellora caves. (Premi 1956b: 465). Vishvanatha, in his text refers to Tungigiri, along with other Jaina tirthas such as Girnar, Shatrunjaya, Champapuri, Pavapuri, Hastinapur etc. The site is mentioned as the nirvana place of Balabhadras and Siddhas and a place, where all disease, hardships and worries disappear. Vishvanatha's date is not determined, but he belongs to a relatively modern period (Premi 1956a: 435-436, Footnote 1).
Other architectural remains
There are no other architectural remains at the site, except a Jaina temple at the foot of the hill, which possibly belongs to Maratha period.
Location
The site occupied important location as attested by inscriptional evidence. The area commanded age-old routes of Surgana-Vani-Gharkhed-Satana and Pimpalner-TaharabadSatana. These routes were protected by a cluster of about fifteen forts, of which Mulher and Salher were the main forts (Naravane 1995: 44). Of these, Mulher is just about 8 km south of Mangi-Tungi hills. The fort was the seat of Rathod kings from late 13th century CE. Tawarikh-e-Ferozeshahi, written in 1340 CE, mentions that Salher and Mulher forts were ruled by the king Mandeva (Balsekar and Bhamre 2006: 89). Though there are no fortifications on the Mangi-Tungi hills, they must have served as observation points for the garrison at Mulher (Naravane 1995: 50). To the east of Mangi-Tungi hills is Selbari
