DDK HistoryF.p65 - CSIR

34 SHRINES AND CULT [2.4
Their settlement has led in four years to more disease, and a decided
body smell. Not all are regularly employed. Tribal solidarity has vanished,
without any greater respect from or for the more advanced society
into which they have been merged. The hunting techniques are lost,
traps and stalking ‘ kites’ gnawed by rats; begging and stealing
continue. A considerable number work at the ammunition depot at
Dehu, where their delicacy of touch enables them, to fuse and stack
high-explosive ammunition without accidents, and to handle light
tools like files with accuracy. But in true primitive fashion, every
pay-day sees feasts, and the purchase of incongruous and useless
second-hand finery, with nothing saved.
2.4. The gods worshipped by the people have their own story to
tell, which we might again study over the same terrain, for example.
The oldest surviving temple ruin in Poona is of a 13th century Yadava
structure (at the end of the old Dagdi-pul causeway). The dargah of
Sheikh Saila has been constructed with its stones and over its remains.
Some of the stone pillars are visible in the tomb, the pedestals of
wooden columns being seen in the courtyard. The original temple must
have been wrecked by the soldiery of Ala’-ud-dln Khalji early in the
14th century. At Patalesvar (=the god of the Underworld) behind the
central meteorological observatory, is an unfinished 9th century cave
temple of Siva, wherein the phallic symbol was installed only a
generation ago; some of the floor was trimmed down (although the
cave is a “ protected monument”) as late as 1946 by the donation of
a generous wartime black-marketeer and contractor. Nana Phadanavls
once took refuge from pursuers in these caves, towards the end of the
Peshwa period, according to tradition. The considerable amount of
stone excavated for the cave formed a little hillock by the side of the
cave, was covered over by wind-blown dust, on which grew some
trees. Today, there is a prosperous, well-endowed, popular temple on
the artificial hillock in memory of a 19th century hermit who lived
and died there and is now revered as Jangll Maharaj. Behind the
Fergusson college, but on its land, are five more caves, originally
Buddhist (like the caves at Karle and Bhaja 40 miles away and the
intermediate Tukarama caves at Selarwadi) monastic structures