Mumbai: Ancient pedestal found in Aarey Milk Colony

A discovery once again highlights the possibility that Aarey Milk Colony might be an important archaeological site A local resident has found a pedestal that archaeologists believe resembles a temple architectural fragment with a Ratna motif and possibly some kind of pedestal Nature lover and local resident Juber Ansari who discovered the pedestal had earlier discovered old idols of deities from Unit No 20 in Aarey Milk Colony in 2022 Following this officials from the Archaeological Survey of India ASI visited the site In January this year while clearing the area of undergrowth Ansari came across a semiround structureJuber Ansari a nature lover who discovered the pedestalActivist and environmentalist Ansari said ldquoIn the past I have come across archaeological remains near Unit 20mdashPrajapur Padamdashat Aarey Milk Colony I have been voluntarily taking care of them after informing the Archaeological Survey of India ASI On January 14 cleaning work was being carried out near a cattle farm as the drainage line was jammed While clearing the drainage line at the end of the tabela I found somethingmdasha semiround white stone objectmdashwhich was covered in cow dung I realised it might have archaeological significance so I cleaned it with water and discovered a beautiful design on it I took pictures and after discussing them with some archaeologists I know confirmed its significance I have since sent an email to the ASI with pictures and details I believe the authorities concerned should investigate this matter because several such discoveries have already been made in this locality A proper excavation at the site is the need of the hourrdquoArchaeologist Sandeep Dahisarkar who examined photographs of the discovered object said ldquoThis appears to be a temple architectural fragment with a Ratna motif likely a kind of pedestal The marble fragment suggests it was part of a Jaina shrine from the ShilaharaYadava period My archaeological study as published in my recent book Shri Bimbakhyana 2024 also mentions another marble fragmentmdasha sculpture with a snakemdashfrom Malad which is part of a Prabhavali or halo of Jaina Tirthankara Parshvanath These temple fragments suggest they were likely destroyed by foreign invaders In the case of Mumbai this region was ruled by the Gujarat Sultanate and the Portuguese Suburban Mumbai needs a dedicated archaeological museum to house such scattered and broken temple fragments ensuring their protection and the preservation of Mumbairsquos rich historyrdquoIn January 2023 midday reported on a similar discovery Shiv Lingam found inside Aarey could be from the 11th or 12th century CE says ASI detailing how Juber Ansari had discovered the remains of an ancient Shiva Lingam near Unit 20 on the boundary of Aarey Milk Colony and SEEPZ Ansari also claimed to have found a slablike structure and recognising its importance informed the Aarey Milk Colony CEOrsquos office and the Aarey police station He also wrote to ASIMumbai regarding the discovery Following this ASI officials including Dr Manish Rai the then assistant superintending archaeologist western region visited Aarey Milk Colony to assess the siteASI inspection reportAfter the inspection the ASI assistant superintendent archaeologist sent a report to the director general of ASI India on February 15 2023 The ASI report stated ldquoBased on the inspection it has been observed that a detailed study of the site is needed given that the locality contains other ancient remains such as caves The SEEPZ area also houses John the Baptist Church an abandoned church built by Portuguese Jesuits in 1579 From an architectural study of the temple remains and circumstantial evidence this site probably dates back to the 12thndash13th century CE belonging to the Yadava periodrdquo ASI officials remained unavailable for commentWho Were the YadavasThe Yadavas also known as the Seunas were a medieval dynasty that ruled from the midninth to the early 14th century At its peak the dynastyrsquos territory included presentday Maharashtra North Karnataka and parts of Madhya Pradesh