Rivona caves
The river Khusavati that follows by Rivona, indicates that it was a location for early civilization, given the proximity of the rock cravings found near at Usgalimal. Of particular interest is the presence of the rock cut caves at Rivona, among the cultivation of arecanut trees. The origin of the caves is either credited to the Buddhist monks, the Pandavas or just early human civilisation.
The presence of Buddhist monks during the 6th and 7th centuries in this area has led some to believe that they established a retreat here. Hence the name ‘Rishi Vana’ meaning the ‘forest of saints’ and Rivona has been derived from this very name. The discovery of a headless assumed to be Buddha statue seated on a lion throne which dates to the 7th century has strengthened this idea. The peetha at the cave is assumed to be the seat of the teacher or Buddhist monk who guided their disciplines towards nirvana. Another story is that Punna or Purna, a Goan born somewhere in 500 BC, went out of Goa to be one of the earliest disciples of Gautam Buddha and he returned back to spread Buddhism in this area.
However, History Scholar Rohit Phalgoankar has pointed out that no Buddhist stupas or motifs were discovered in the cave and the peetha could actually be a simple raised laterite platform used for domestic purposes and there maybe a chance that these are not Buddhist caves in the first place.
Some locals believe that these are Pandava caves as the Pandavas lived in these caves during their exile. The sculpture of God Hanuman at the entrance of the cave could be connected to this belief.
The cave is covered in vegetation during the monsoons as I discovered. The entrance to the cave is at the lowest level. There are steps that lead to the middle and upper levels. The middle chamber could have been used for meditation. It had some provision for water to flow into the cave. The upper and last chamber also has an opening at its rear perhaps for ventilation. The locals believe that the cave had an underground passage or tunnel that has now caved in. Besides the cave is a 16th century date step well. It would have been used for a ritualistic purpose or it could be actually an early irrigation system.
The caves in itself may not appear to be impressive but the history behind it surely is. If you visit the Rivona caves, you should throw in a visit to the Usgalimal (also called Pansaimol) stone carvings which is a short distance away. Also of interest is the bubbling pond or Budbudyachi talli within that vicinity.
