Two decades of the Mauxi rock art

Almost twenty years ago, the volunteers of Saptarang Kala Manch of Mauxi, boosted my morale and helped me actively involving in bringing to light the prehistoric heritage of the village situated at the foothills of the Western Ghats and enriched by the Zarme rivulet flowing from the Vagheri hill. Predominantly, agricultural village, the present settlers of Mauxi migrated from Bethoda of Ponda.

As per, the villagers, the rock art lying on the boulders were the creation of the Pandavas from the epic Mahabharata. The temple of Puravtari, was believed to be constructed by the Pandavas during their exile and villagers wanted to build the new temple in the light of one wick and within one night. Today, the new temple of Puravtari is standing. The temple of Ravalnath, situated on the right side of the Zarme rivulet, is the chief attraction for the devotees, who throng in a big number on the occasion of the Dussehra festival. The persons, who are believed to be possessed by the ghosts and goblins are brought here and through the blessings of insignia of Ravalnath, are relieved. As the rivulet, in the past, was having a large quantity of water, the villagers were involved in doing the autumn season agriculture at Ravalnathache Vaigan and also the silt based agriculture called the Puran sheti. As per, locals, before their settlement, Mauxi had been dominated by the primitive Dhavad community. The ancestors of present settlers, treacherously assassinated all of them and established their supremacy.

On April 4, 2004, under the initiative of Devidas Gaonkar, Rupesh Gaonkar, Jaidev Gaonkar, Santosh Gaonkar, Rama Gaonkar and Sangam Patil, were successful in unearthing the hidden treasure of prehistory. Pundalik Govind Gaonkar, who completed, then 75 years of age, told, During our childhood, when we used to come for doing the silt based agriculture believed to be creation of the Pandavas,we every time, mesmerized by enjoying glimpses of these specimen of rock art.

As some boulders were taken for various purposes from the course of the rivulet, the specimen of rock art went into oblivion.

Carvings of the bull fight, dancing woman, X - ray type of bulls, foot print, trident, deer, barking deer, came to light, on account of the excavation carried out by the volunteers. Contribution of the journalist, Devidas Gaonkar, in bringing the heritage of rock art to light is indeed noteworthy and memorable.

Villagers of Mauxi, have the belief that Ravalnath of their village, is unmarried and they also do not marry with the girls from Coparde, Veluz and Dabe.

Mauxi rock carvings are unique specimens of creative mind inherited from ages, displaying hidden facets of unknown history here before.

There is an urgent need of doing in-depth research and study of the rock art of Mauxi. Recently, The Directorate of Archeology has notified it as a protected site. If proper steps aiming conservation and protection of the site are taken it will certainly help in boosting the heritage tourism of Sattari.

Carvings of the Zebu, found in Mauxi are clear indicators of transition from the hunter gatherers to the agro-pastoral society. These bovids, carved on the monolith of different shapes and sizes inside the Zarme rivulet, are the eco- geographical territorial markers that throw light on the creative talents of the prehistoric human beings.

Mauxi, etymologically, means the big sugarcane. It is situated in the vicinity of Gulle village that was associated with making jaggery. Sugarcane grown in Mauxi, might be taken to Gulle, for the production of jaggery, during the hoary past.

The rock carvings of Mauxi, are unique not only in Goa, but also in the Southern Konkan to Udupi - Malabar region, as far as styles, designs and skills are concerned. Archaeologists associated with Archeological survey of India, Goa Mini circle, had done comparative study of the rock art of Mauxi with the rock art of Maski and Piklihal sites of Raichur district of Karnataka, showcasing the heritage of prehistoric cattle herders. The rock art discovered in Virdi of Maharashtra, near to Keri of Sattari has some parallel linkages with Mauxi rock art, and the researchers have a lot of scope to study in this direction.