ARVALEM CAVES
The cut rock The caves of Arvalem are one of the ancient monuments of Goa. Imbued in mythological tales, these are also known as the "Pandavas caves." Legend has it that the Pandavas, heroes of the epic Mahabharata, sought refuge in the caves of Arvalem during their exile. Archaeologists have traced the origins of these caves to the 5th or 6th century AD.
Opinions are ambivalent regarding the architecture of the Arvalem caves. The popular belief that the Arvalem cave complex has been carved by traveling Buddhist monks has credibility as these caves are built along the lines of Buddhist caves, rock cut into laterite stone, with the sanctuary at the end North and vihara in the south end.
There are five compartments in the cave complex and the middle compartment consecrates the 'linga' held in great reverence by the devotees. The axes of the four carved lanyards inside the cave resemble those found in the famous Elephanta and Ellora caves. The Shivalinga in the second cave is engraved with an inscription written in Sanskrit characters and Brahmi of the seventh century.
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