Abstract

The cave temple at Mandapeshwar is a part of the Pashupata (Shaiva) group of caves in Mumbai. Scholarly evidence suggests that the caves witnessed Buddhist and Brahminical activity when they were functional. Although small and unique in character, the caves must have had a particular usage attributed to them. The Natesha or the dancing Shiva sculptural panel is speculated as an important manifest form of Shiva. This paper aims to explore the manifest form of Shiva through the dancing Shiva sculptural panel and explore the importance of this cave temple within the Mumbai region. The methodology used is the arbitrary method which involves analytical research through scholarly writing supported by inductive reasoning.

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References

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