History

Ancient History OF Vasai

1. Pandav Vihir in Vasai 

On their way to Prabhas, Pandavas halted at a place where a well was built centuries ago, now this is located in place called Pandav Vihir at Chulne Gaon, BASSEIN(Vasai)
[Mahabharat (Vana Parva), chap. 118, quoted in Ind. Ant. IX. 44.]

2. Buddha Stup at Sopara Vasai

In ancient times, it was the largest township on India's west coast, trading with Mesopotamia, Egypt, Cochin, Arabia and Eastern Africa. Proof of Ashokan inscriptions have also been recovered from Sopara, Buddhist text gives details that is was a prominent Buddhist area. During excavation ruins of a Buddhist Stupa were found. From the center of the stupa (inside a brick built chamber) a large stone coffer was excavated which contained eight bronze images of Maitreya Buddha which belong to the 8th-9th century A.D. The coffer contained a relic caskets, numerous gold flowers and fragments of a begging bowl.
A silver coin of Gautamiputra Satakarni was also found from the mound.

Eight Directions present on the recent Pillar Found Near Buddha Stupa Nalasopara

Top View of the recent Pillar Found Near Buddha Stupa Nalasopara, the view shows 8 direction or lines from the center which matches with the locations of 8 images of Gauram Buddha which Bhagwanlal Indrani  recovered around 130 years ago from the same site (9^th April 1882)

Locations of 8 images of Gauram Buddha which Bhagwanlal Indrani  recovered around 130 years ago from the same site (9^th April 1882), Reference Journal Of Asiatic Society of Bombay  1882/83 & 1986

The Pillar has an image which represents Sakyamuni the last Image of Buddha; he sits in this position when he gained perfect knowledge.

A coin of Gautamiputra Yajna Satkarni was also   recovered around 130 years ago from the same site (9^th April 1882), Reference Journal O)f Asiati0c So0ciety of Bombay  1882/83

Medival

1. Shilahars

2. Bimba Bonge Raja

3. Sultan of Gujrat

** More to come here.

Vasai & Arnala Fort Click to see video

Map Vasai which was known as Bacaim By the Portuguese, From Portuguese Atlas

Water color of Portuguese Map Vasai Fort

Land Gate

Sea Gate

St. Anthony's Church Franciscan

St. Anthony's Church Franciscan from Inside

Treaty Of Bassein Between Maratha and Portuguese was signed here

St Gonsalo Garcia First Indian Saint

The first Indian to attain sainthood hails from a village in Vasai near Mumbai. St Gonsalo Garcia was born in 1556 and did missionary work in Japan before being martyred in 1597. He was declared a saint by the Catholic Church in 1862

Storm clouds were hovering over the horizon for the missionaries as Japanese rulers suspected them of sedition. They were confined to their monastery in December 1596. In January 1597, they were arrested and imprisoned and in February, Gonsalo and 26 others crucified in Nagasaki. In 1627, Garcia and his fellow martyrs were declared "Venerable" by Pope Urban VIII. It took the Catholic Church over 250 years to declare him a saint on June 8, 1862.

St Gansalo Baptized here in the Mother Church Vasai Fort

Jesuit monastery within the Bassein Fort Where St Gansalo Studied

Cross on which St. Gansalo Died

My Comments and Views on St. Gonsalo Garcia appear in Suvarta

My Article on St. Gonsalo Garcia published in Jesuit Parivar.

Fr.Thomas Stephens, S.J spent some part of his time in the Vasia fort

Fr.Thomas Stephens, S.J spent some part of his time in the Vasia fort he stayed in the Jesuit Church in the fort.
I regard Fr. Stephens Thompson as a saint for the people of Northen Konkan region as he explained them Christianity in their native language and ensured they understood and adopted the religion.

Krista Purana,  "The Christian Puranas" , an epic poem on the life of Jesus Christ written in a mix of Marathi and Konkani by Fr.Thomas Stephens, S.J. (1549–1619). Adopting the literary form of the Hindu puranas it retells the entire story of mankind, from the creation days to the time of Jesus in lyrical verse form. The Christian Puranas - 11,000 stanzas of 4 verses - were very popular in the churches of the area where they were sung on special occasions up to the 1930s.

Christa Puran in Roman Lipit (Ed 1: 1616, Ed 2:1649, Ed:3 1654) Image of third edition book

Krista Puran – Work of English Man in Northern Konkan and Vasai

Fr. Stephens Thompson Born in Wiltshire about 1549, narrowly escaped being sent to jail or put to death as where many of his companions during the religious persecutions of the Catholics.His zeal for missionary work in India landed him in Goa, arrived at Goa in October, 1579

He spent 40 years of service amongst the people of Northern Konkan , Salsette and Vasai.

Obtained completely mastery over the classical language Sanskrit, and composed several works for the benefit of the people of Northern Konkan region.

Died at the ripe old age at rachol in goa honored by all as a saint a poet and a great pandit, the tragedy is no monument Marks his grave, but he resides in the heart of the Catholics of the Northern Konkan region

The Krista Puran is a remarkable poem in old Marathi Kokani poetic language. The language of the book takes after that of his great predecessor Dnyaneshwar and Namdeo with the sparkling of the local Kokani

It consists of 11018 slokas divided in two parts the First part called the Pailla Puran corresponding to the old testament of the bible. 

And the second part Dussara Puran, corresponding to the New Testament.

In other words it is an account of historic sequence of events from the time of creation of Heaven and Earth to the ending of gospel narratives focusing around the death and resurrection of Jesus the hero of the poem. In brief it may be described as an impressive attractive material narrating the birth of Christianity.

The poem begins with the an address to the Almighty GOD  “Deua Bapa sarua Samartha” Fr. Stephan weaves together all principal characters and episodes of the Old with those of the New Testament as contained in the Bible which circles around the hero of the poem Jesus Christ

Talks about expulsion of Satan from heaven, creation of the first man and women, their fall, The care of Mankind, the survival of Nova family, The election of Abraham, The Iserialites, are carefully linked with the events of the new testament,  Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John the Baptist, the birth life the sacred ministry , death and resurrection of Jesus.

Fr. Stephens takes up the crowning event of Jesus’s earthly life, his passion and death followed by resurrection as marking his final and most decisive victory.

The highest effort of the poets genius are concentrated in his most touching description of the passion and death of Jesus Christ and in bringing home his readers a lesson of self sacrifice love and forgiveness taught by Jesus Christ and after his last supper on the cross and when after the death of Jesus his body is lowered from the cross, his blessed mother pierced with a sword as predicted before gives vent to her grief. This is the most heart rending, and must touch the hardest heart.

The divinity of Christ and the realities of his humanity, His Joys and Sorrows, His likes and dislikes, His gentleness and tenderness of heart, His self sacrificing love for man, His purity of his life and universality of his personality are brought out with power force which no painter, sculptor, poet has ever surpassed.

Further the poet’s simple and natural description of nature and surrounding provides a background to the characters and events which help to make the poem attractive and real.

My Article Published in Gaurav Ankika of Fr. Stephan

Suvarta Make a Note of My Article in Gaurav Ankika of Fr. Stephan

Chimnaji Appa (or Chimaji Appa) (1707–1741)

Chimnaji Appa (or Chimaji Appa) (1707–1741) was the son of Balaji Vishwanath Bhat and the younger brother of Bajirao Peshwa. He was an able military commander who liberated the western coast of India from Portuguese rule. The crowning glory of his career was the capture of Vasai fort from the Portuguese (who had technically advanced weapons and artillery at their disposal) in a hard fought battle.

Vajreshwari Devi Mandir Built by Chimaji Appa 1739 Vasai Fort

Arnala Fort 

rnala Fort is located approximately 8 miles North of Vasai. It is built on a small island off the Arnala port. Since the fort is built on an island and surrounded on all sides by water it is also known as "Jaldurg" or "Janjire Arnala" Portuguese called the island "Ilha das vacas". Before the Portuguese control of the island, the island was controlled by the Muslim rulers of Gujarat.

The island is near the mouth of Vaitarna river and the Portuguese used it to observe and control shipping and navigation along the western coast. The Portuguese captain of Bassein donated the island to a Portuguese nobleman. The nobleman tore down the old fort and began construction of 700 foot by 700 foot fort. The fort was never completed by the nobleman but remained under Portuguese control.

In 1737 when Chimaji Appa began his assault on Bassein (Vasai) to drive out the Portguese, his General Shankarji Pant informed Chimaji that Arnala fort is a strategic for the naval forces that were on route to attack the Portguese. Chimaji approved the assault on the fort. Shankarji Pant consulted and sought assistance of the local people to attack the Arnala fort; among them were Govindji Kasar and Gavraji Patil from Bolinj. Shankarji sent Gangaji Naik, Bajirao Belose and Rayajirao Surve to lead a battalion of 400 soldiers to lead the attack on Arnala fort. This attack was coordinated along with naval force commanded by Manaji Agre. Maratha navy was no match for the Portuguese firepower. Agre's navy was routed.


On March 28, 1737 Maratha forces attacked the fort and surprised the Portuguese who were caught with their guard down. The Portuguese retreated and gave up the fort. The Maratha victory was commemorated with a plaque installed on the northern wall of the fort and is still visible today. Soon after the Maratha victory, Shankarji Pant began reconstruction of the fort. By January of 1738 three bastions were completed. The three bastions were named Bahirav, Bhavani and Bava. The construcation was completed by March of 1738.

Shankaracharya Mandir
Chimaji Appa rebuilt and restored Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mandir at Nirmal

Vasai Fort Bells

After the Marathas defected the Portuguese in 1739 all the churches and building in the fort where captured by the Marathas. The bells from the churches where paraded and carried off.

One such Bell was carried to and located at Naroshankar Temple on the banks of Godavari river in Nasik, Panchavati area. The other church bell is located at Bhimashankar Temple is located in the village of Bhorgiri 50 km north west of Khed. Third bell is located at Meneshwar temple in Menavali near Panchgani

Bell house at Meneshwar temple, Menavali, Church BEll showing Mary with Jesus

Key Scripts & Languages Used 


MODI
The Modi script was used to write the Marathi language spoken in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It originated as a cursive variant of the script during the 17th century CE. Modi was used until the 1950's when Devanagari replaced it as the written medium of the Marathi language.

The following is the basic Modi script.

Portuguese

Hello - Olá
Goodbye - Adeus
Yes - Sim
No - Não
Maybe - Talvez
Thankyou - Obrigado (male)/ Obrigada (female)
Please - Por favor
Sorry - Desculpe (formal), Desculpa (informal)
Today - Hoje
Tomorrow - Amanhã
Where - Onde
How - Como
Who - Quem
Why - Porquê
When - Quando

http://www.squidoo.com/Portuguese-words

Map of Nirmal - Gaas area from Archaeological Survey of India, Western Circle- Progress report, 1898