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MOHIDA
Jaina Rock-cut Caves in Western India
The two Jaina caves in the bedrock of river Gomai at Mohida date from late 12th-early 13th century CE. There are no literary references to the site, neither are there any other architectural remains of any importance in the village. A solitary reference to the village of Mohida is found in the Javakhed plates of Rashtrakuta king Amoghvarsa, dated to Saka 742. It records the grant of Voyipadraka, which was bounded on the south by the village Umbaripikagrama, on north by mountain Vindhya and on the east by Laghu Moyipadraka. This Voyipadraka has been identified with present Mohida, while Laghu Moyipadraka is another Mohida, to the south of the present site (Mahajan 1989: 123). However, there are no references to either the village or the caves in the contemporary inscriptions or literature.
The site appears to have been chosen due to the river flowing so close by, which must have attached some sanctity to it. Sultanpur, about 13 km northeast of Shahada and 6.5 km northeast of Mohida was a stronghold of Jainism in the 12th-13th centuries as attested by finds of a number icons of Jina and yakṣas around the old fort. One of the idol bases carries an inscription with a date of Samvat 1217 (Dhule District Gazetteer 1974: 825-826). Two more icons, now housed in the Rajwade Samshodhan Mandal, also carry inscriptions (Bhatta 1958: 81). Thus, the sect seems to have been powerful in the region in this period and the caves were excavated mainly due to its proximity to the river. Shahada, about 6 km from the site had a land fort, perhaps working as the northern screen for Nandurbar (Naravane 1995: 43). Thus, the area probably held strategic importance
too.
NANDAGIRI
There are no epigraphic or literary references to the site. Neither are there any architectural remains of any significance in the vicinity. However, the only factor in the choice of the site for carving an icon in a water cistern, is its direct relationship with the fort and the sanctity attached to it because of water. Built by Raja Bhoj in late 12th century CE (Naravane 1995: 156), the fort stands at the end of the spur of the Mahadeva range. It forms the southern extremity of the spur, dividing the Vangna and Vasna valleys. The most remarkable feature on the hill is its water supply, which is abundant (Satara District Gazetteer 1963: 854, Foot note 3). The steep, bare and rugged hill with its squarish peak makes a distinct landmark in the landscape.
Jainism was popular in the region around the site during the medieval period. At Phaltan, about 35 km northwest of Nandgiri was built a Jaina temple in the 12th-13th century CE, later on converted to a Siva temple.
At present, the site is an active religious centre, of Jainism and Brahmanism. The deep, dark, long tunnel provides it with a somewhat mystic nature. A number of pilgrims visit the site regularly. A number of Jainas also visit the site soon after the Paryusana festival.
To sum it up, it would appear that most of the Jaina caves in Maharashtra developed near large and prosperous urban towns, situated strategically on important
