There are two forts called Jeevdhan in Maharashtra. The first is Jivdanigad, popularly known as Jeevdani Devi at Virar in Palghar district and the second is Jeevdhan, the guardian fort of Naneghat on the Junnar border in Pune district. However, Jeevdani Devi did not heed the call of Jivadhan fort and today this fort has lost its existence. From Dahanu in Palghar district to Versova and Mahim in Mumbai at a certain distance, you can see sea forts built for patrolling along the coast. In Vasai taluka, 2 km east of Virar city, Jeevdhan, a fort situated on a hill. Today this fort has lost its importance. The fort is 900 feet above sea level and today there are two ways to reach the fort. One is from Jivdanipada and the other is the ancient route known today as Pachpairi. Cement steps are built from the base to the center of the fort. ... In some places, the road leading to the fort is made of mud and stones. It takes 30 to 45 minutes to reach the temple on the fort. There is a ropeway facility for those who cannot climb the stairs. Today, the old fort has now been transformed into a modern seven-story Jeevdani temple. The temple has been constructed in place of the fort and its construction, the original remains of the fort have been destroyed. Today, all the four Satvahan caves in the area where the ropeway stops have been vandalized, and access to them has been prohibited. Today there is a marble idol of Jeevdani Devi instead of the original stone idol. The place where the goddess stands today was formerly a cave. There was also a small cave on the left-hand side of the goddess and the right-hand side, there is another cave about fifteen feet long and narrow enough for one person to enter at a time. The mouth of this cave is closed by a glass door. You can see such caves at Vikatgad and Sajjangad. Adjacent to this cave was large and spacious caves. Except for the caves, all the historical structures have been demolished. After visiting Goddess Jeevdani and climbing the steps on the right side, you can see the small temple of Goddess Baronda on the right side. In front of this temple, there were water cisterns carved out of stone in the past, but today they have been destroyed and a cage for birds has been built here. From here onwards, there is a path that goes to Gaigotha, where caves are present. this path is still there today but is closed with an iron net. From here, a beautiful view of the then Virar city could be seen and in the distance, the sea of Arnala and Janjira fort could be seen. It can be seen even today but the mysterious peace that could be felt here in the past has been demolished today. In front of the temple of Goddess Baronda, there is a temple of Goddess Kalbhairav and Goddess Kalika. In the past, chickens and goats were sacrificed in this Kalikamata temple but now it has been prohibited to do so. From the top of the fort, one can see the beautiful surroundings. To the east, on the right-hand side, Kamandurg, Tungareshwar mountain, and on the left-hand side, Takmak fort is visible. To the west, Arnala and Janjira and a short distance away, Vajragad of Bhuigaon, and beyond that, if the sky is clear, you can see the fort of Vasai. The Jeevadhan fort, which carries the caves of the Satavahana period on its shoulders, was preserving its existence even before Shivshahi. Except for the base of a bastion and the dilapidated caves, no remnants of the fort can be seen today. During Shivaji Maharaj’s period, Jeevdhan was in the possession of the Portuguese. Shambhaji Maharaj fought for this fort in the year 1683 and annexed it to the Swarajya but later on 27th August 1685 it is recorded that it was recaptured by the Portuguese. After this, it came under the control of the Marathas once again but the Portuguese with the help of two cannons, three hundred soldiers, and eighteen horsemen besieged the fort and conquered it on 27 March 1731. Later, seeing the increasing atrocities of the Portuguese on the Hindus in the Vasai area, the Peshwas undertook the campaign of Vasai to eradicate the Portuguese. A Maratha chief named Barwaji Takpir, with the help of 300 soldiers captured Jeevdhan from the Portuguese on 21 March 1738 and on April 1738 informed the Pune courtyard to send two labor to repair the water cisterns on the fort. After this, the fort was under the control of Marathas for a long time. Finally, in 1817, this fort along with other forts came under the control of the British.
© Suresh Nimbalkar