Vasai-virar region is a very ancient and sacred region in India that goes back to the era of MahAbhArata.

It was known as shUrpAraka (शर्

ू पारक) in the ancient era. Vasai occupied a very significant role in the
history of Western Maharashtra until the rule of British Empire. With the emergence of British Empire,
Mumbai (Bombay) became the prime, metropolitan city and Vasai soon faded away from the historical
landscape and assumed a cluster of villages as a distant suburb of Mumbai. However the history of vasai
is indeed more ancient than Mumbai. In spite of recent archaeological findings about Mumbai, the
antiquity of Vasai is more significant and ancient than Mumbai. Vasai is mentioned in mahAbhArata,
agni purANa, skanda purANa, Padma purANa, certain Buddhist texts and in nAtha literature. shUrpAraka
was a prominent port city is known by the discovery of a major rock edict of ashoka which is kept in
Mumbai Museum. There is an ancient stupa that dates back to Lord Buddha, a merchant named pUrNa
from shUrpAraka (nallasopara) went to shrAvastI and listened to the discourse of Lord Buddha in
jetavana of anAthapiNDaka. Enlightened by the teachings of the Lord he became his disciple and learnt
the dharma very well then with the permission of Lord Buddha pUrNa returned to shUrparaka with a
bowl of Lord Buddha and set up a monastery here in nallasopara; 200 years later when ashoka became
the emperor of India he constructed 84000 stupas, caves and monasteries one among them is the
nallasopara stupa.
Etymology

ू पारक is derived from the roots ष-ु to sacrifice, power of supremacy, शॄ

शर् – to injure, पॄ- to purify, to
cherish, to please and to protect

शॄ / ष ु + पः (षशृभ्यां
ु निच्च। उणयनि सूतर)् = शूप+ ् ु = शूपःप
प अच+स

ु ् (ण्वल्त
पॄ+ण्वल ु च ृ ौ।)= पयरक+स=ु पयरकः thus we get शर्ू पारक. Later, the name वसई is derived

from the root वस=् to live which became Bassein during Portugese rule.

As per sahyAdrI khaNDa of skanda purANa, Vasai was founded by Lord parashurAma when he reclaimed
land from the ocean. The seven provinces as reclaimed by Lord are

ु ां गयश्च तथय गोरयष्ट्रवयनसिः। कोंकणयः करहयटयश्च वरयलयट्श्श्च बबपरयः॥

के रलयश्च तल
keralA, tulungA, gorAShTra, konkaNa, karahATA, varAlATa and barbara. Vasai belongs to varAlATa
province which has many holy places and ponds as established by Lord parashurAma himself. vaitaraNI,
nirmala and tungArI mAhAtmyas of Padma purANa mention the sanctity and sacredness of these sacred
places in Vasai-Virar region of which the river vaitaraNI is the northern border. In mahAbhArata
shUrpAraka is mentioned twice and in agni purANa it is mentioned in tIrtha mAhAtmya. History of vasai
goes back to treta yuga; in navanAtha kathAsAra it is given that the great sage Lord matsyendranAtha
asked the goddess vajreshvarI why was she called vajrabai to which the goddess replied that lord rAma
had installed her form of thunderbolt (Vajra) to protect the sacrifice of the sages hence she came to be
called as vajrabai (vajreshvarI). After reclaiming vasai from the sea by Lord parashurAma he installed
many shrines and temples in and around the region. It is said that he installed 64 yoginis and built 108
tIrtha kuNDas or puShkariNIs.The lake at nirmal village was known as vimalasarovara built by Lord
parashurAma and he filled the lake with various sacred rivers of India like gangA, tApI, narmadA,
sharayU, gaNDakI, chandrabhAgA, pArAsharI, varuNA, aruNA, indrAyaNI, payoShNI, veNA,etc. In front of
cakreshvara mahadeva temple is the cakreshvara tIrtha. Similarly tamtalao was known as tAmrataTAka
and devtalao was known as devatIrtha. Similarly such sacred ponds were present in nanbhat, umela,
manikpur, bolinj, giriz, tungar and agashi. Many sacred sites were destroyed by the evil Portuguese
invaders and churches were built on them followed by large scale forced conversion. The northern
border of vasai-virar is marked by vaitaraNI river. The river is praised in vaitaraNI mAhAtmya of Padma

purANa. It is called vaitaraNI because it truly saves people from sin and grants liberation (वै truly तरणी
saving). This river was brought to earth by lord parashurAma from pAtAla (nether) region after slaying
the demon pAlapanjarAsura. Lord parashurAma went to himAlayas and prayed to lord shiva to protect
people of kaliyuga from sin to which the great lord shiva blessed parashurAma to bring vaitaraNI river
from pAtAla to earth. This river is frequented by terrestrial and celestial sages and gods like vasiShTha,
nArada, indra etc. In Greek mythology the river styx is the river equivalent to vaitaraNI. mahabhArata
bhIShma parva-tIrtha parva, harihareshvara mAhAtmya of skanda purANa, matsya purANa (113) and
padma purana gives details of the sacred river. Similarly the tungareshvar temple too has an ancient
legend associated to it as mentioned in tungAri mAhAtmya of Padma purANa. It is said that once upon a
time in tretA yuga the demon vimalasura was defeated by parashurAma. He brought a mountain from
the sea and performed great austerities to please lord shiva. When shiva appeared vimalasura asked for
immortality and the privilege of tIrtha and a divine linga. Lord shiva granted the boon provided he stops
harassing the sages. Thus the divine linga came to be called as tungareshvar. Similarly nirmal is also very
sacred; it not only wipes out sins committed in this birth but also of previous births-------

नवमलां निमपलां तीथं सद्यो मयिसिोषहृत।् यत्र स्नयत्वय ि नलप्यन्ते मलैर्न्म

प यन्तनर्पत ैः॥
Nirmal was desecrated by the evil Portuguese invaders, destroyed the shrines and used the stones to
build their diabolical churches.

Vasai-virar region was quite important during ancient era. The jivdani temple actually belongs to a
network of ancient Buddhist caves which are some of the most ancient Buddhist caves in India. It is
more ancient than kanheri caves and when kanheri caves became famous jivdani caves became a minor
satellite settlement. In cave no 7 of kaneri there is a three line inscription about a donor from

shUrpAraka (सोपयरग िेगम, स सनमकुपयसक, स पोनि िेयिम). Similarly we find in cave no 86 a

one line inscription नसद्धां सोपयरयकस मनिकरस ियगपनलतस सपनरवरस लेण ां िेयिम and in
cave no 16 sopara is mentioned.
The image of the actual rock edict of ashoka is given below:
 9th Major Rock Edict
Thus speaks the Beloved of the Gods, the king Piyadassi. People practise
various ceremonies. In illness, at the marriage of sons and daughters, at the
birth of children, when going on a journey- on these and on other similar
occasions people perform many ceremonies. Women especially perform a
variety of ceremonies, which are trivial and useless. If such ceremonies must
be performed they have but small results. But the one ceremony which has
great value is that of Dhamma. This ceremony includes, regard for slaves and
servants, respect for teachers, restrained behaviour towards living being and
donations to sramanas and brahmans -- these and similar practices are called
the ceremony of Dhamma. So father, son, brother, master, friend,
acquaintance, and neighbour should think, 'This is virtuous, this is the
ceremony I should practice, until my object is achieved.'
After the end of Mauryan Empire, the western province of aparanta came under the rule of Western
Satraps followed by SAtavAhana Empire and various other empires of the nation. Later Mahmud
Begada of Gujarat built fortifications in Vasai. As Vasai lies only six miles (9.60 kilometres) south of
Sopara it can hardly have been a place of consequence so long as Sopara (A. D. 1100) remained a
centre of trade. A doubtful reference makes Vasai the head of a district under the Devagiri Yadavas
(1184-1318). There is no certain notice till 1507, when Mabmud Begada of Gujarat (1459-1511) is said
to have effected his designs against the towns of Vasai and Bombay. A few years later Barbosa (1514)
described it under the name Baxay. as a town of Moors and Gentiles, a good sea-port belonging to the
king of Gujarat. Much merchandise was exchanged, and there was a great movement of shipping from
all parts and many boats came from Malabar laden with arecas, Coma and spices. In 1526 the
Portuguese established a factory at Vasai and in 1529 and again in 1531, a revenge for the hostility of
the Gujarat kings, laid waste the Vasai coast. In 1532, to put a stop to these raids and prevent the
Portuguese from spreading further north, Shah ordered Malik Tokan, Governor of Diu to fortify Vasai A
citadel was built, both the creek and the sea sides strengthened with ramparts surrounded by a ditch
full of salt water, and the whole was garrisoned by a force of 15,000 cavalry and infantry. Against this
new fort Nuno da Cunha, the Portuguese General, advanced with a fleet of 150 sail manned by 4,000
men, half European, half Goans. Seeing their strength Malik Tokan made overtures for peace. But Da
Cunha's terms were so hard that he was forced to refuse them. On this the Portuguese landed a little
to the north of the citadel, and the vanguard, led by Diogo de Sylveira and Manuel de Macedo, scaled
the ramparts, and, in spite of their small number, dashed on the enemy and put them to flight. The
Muhammedans fled leaving large stores of provisions and ammunition, and the Portuguese secured
the island with loss of only two persons of mark and a few soldiers. On account of its nearness to their
new fort of Chaul, and because they could ill-spare a garrison, the Portuguese razed the citadel to the
ground, and retired to Goa with 400 captured pieces of artillery.
About this time Sultan Bahadur of Gujarat, proud of his success in the Deccan and in Malwa, brought
on himself the wrath of the Emperor Humayun. Both parties were anxious to gain the Portuguese as
allies. With the object Bahadur, in 1533, agreed to cede Vasai and its dependencies to the Portuguese,
gave them the right of levying duties on the Red Sea trade, and arranged that his vessels should call at
Vasai and take a Portuguese passport. In the following year the Emperor tried to tempt the Portuguese
to an alliance. But they continued firm friends to the king of Gujarat. and in reward were allowed to
build a fortress at Diu. The Portuguese established a factory at Vasai but did so little to strengthen it,
that in 1536 on the advance of a body of Moghals the commandant thought of abandoning the place.
This was opposed by Antonio Galvao, and the Moghals, finding the garrison ready to resist, withdrew
without firing a shot. Shortly after Nuno da Cunha, the Portuguese Viceroy arrived, and dug the
foundations of a new citadel, honouring Galvao by asking him to lay the corner-stone of the fort. About
the same time certain Musabnan mosques were pulled down and in their place a cathedral of St.
Joseph was built. la 1539 Vasai was besieged by a Gujarat force but the attack was repulsed. Towards
the close of the century (1583) it is mentioned as one of the places of most trade in corn and rice on
the mast. About the same time (1585) it is said to have trade in rice, corn and timber for ship-budding,
but to be a filthy place compared with Daman. Abul Fazl (1586) calls it Bussy, a city and an emporium
like Daman, Sanjan, Mahim and Tarapur, all five of them being in the possession of the Europeans
through the negligence of the Mogbal officers. Shortly after (1590) new fortifications were begun and
finished about the close of the century. They are described as a strong stonewall with eleven bastions
mounting ninety pieces of artillery twenty-seven of the bronze, and seventy mortars seven of them
bronze. The fort was defended by twentyone gun-boats, each of them carrying from sixteen to
eighteen guns. Vasai though never too busy a trade centre as Chaul, was famous for its ship-building
and bad the advantage of being the headquarters of a rich tract of country, held by large Portuguese
proprietors, whose wealth and the retinue and the court of the Captain of the North greatly enriched
the city. The space within the walls was kept entirely for the higher class of Portuguese who tolerated
no artisan or native among them. With straight streets, large squares, stately two-storeyed dwellings
graced with covered balconies and large windows, and many rich and magnificent churches Vasai was
next to Goa, the largest and richest of the Portuguese settlements. Under the General of the North, it
was governed by a Captain, with an establishment of sixteen messengers, four torch-bearers, and
three water and one umbrella carriers. With him, at least in the seventeenth century, certain of the
chief townsmen seem to have been associated as aldermen, vereadores, whom the governor called
every morning and consulted all standing, the Governor though gouty not being allowed a chair.' Next
to the Captain came the factor on £ 43 (2,00,000 reis) a year, with two clerks, two torch-bearers, and
two messengers. Order was kept by a constable of the fort on £ 8-6 s. (38,920 reis) a year, with twelve
bombardiers each paid is 1 s. (3 tangas) a month ; a chief constable, thanadar, on £ 43 (2,00,000 reis) a
year living outside on the walls in upper Vasai, Bacain de Cima, with twenty constables on 1 s. 6 d.
(5tangos) a month, four musketeers on 2 s. 3 d. (7 tangas), a sergeant, naik, on 1 s. 6 d. (2 pardaos),
one private or najar. a clerk with a sergeant and four privates, a translator, a Prabbu, a cooper, and a
boatswain. Justice was administered by a police magistrate, meirinho, on £ 21 10 s. (100,000 reis) with
ten messengers, a judge, onvidor, on £ 21 10 s. (1,00,000) with five messengers ; and an appellate
judge, vedor, a doctor of laws, who beard appeals from all the judges of the north coast Of
miscellaneous officers there was a sea bailiff, alcaide do mar, on £ 2 10 s. (12,000 reis): a customs
storekeeper. almoxarife dos almazens, on £ 2 8 s. (30, 000 reis); a king's advocate On £ 4 6 s. (20,000
reis) and administrator of inter estates on £ 3 16 s. (18,000 reis) a chief Of the night watch On £ 5 8 s.
(25,200 reis) and a master builder on £ 3 16 s. (18000 reis). On the 17th February 1739 the siege of
Vasai was begun, and, under Chimaji Appa, Bajirav's brother, was pressed with a skill, courage and
perseverance which no other Maratha besieging force has ever shown. In spite of the loss of their
commander, Sylveira de Menem, the garrison defended themselves with the highest courage and
constancy, driving back attacks, and by midnight sallies harassing the Maratha lines. Still the besiegers
pressed closer, mine after mine was sprung, and in spite of a constant fire from band grenades,
musketry and mortars, the wall was breached under Sam Sebastian's tower, and, mounting on its ruins,
the Marathas gained a position from which they could not be driven. The garrison, blockaded by
Angre's fleet and short of food and of powder, with the flower of their officers and men dead or
disabled, could hold out no longer. On the 4th May 1739 they offered to capitulate. The terms were
honourable. The garrison, auxiliaries as well as regulars, were allowed to march out with the honours
of war, and, to such of the people as wished to leave, eight days were given to gather their property.
The loss of the Portuguese was about 800 ; that of the Marathas, in killed and wounded, about 12,000.
Thus Vasai fell, as falls a stately tree never to rise. No fight had been more glorious to the Portuguese ;
in none since the days of Albuquerque had they earned more unsullied fame.
Under the Marathas Vasai with the name of Bajipur or Bajirav's city, continued a place of importance,
the headquarters of the governor of the country from the Bankot river to Daman. To restore the Hindu
population grants of rent free land were offered, and a tax was levied for the support of Brahmans who
were brought to purify the Christians and make them fit to take their place in their old castes.
In 1767 the Dutch wished to establish a factory at Vasai. In 1774 the town was taken by the British but
soon after was restored to the Marathas. Six years later (1780) Goddard, leading his army by land from
Surat, arrived (November 13th) before Vasai. The fortress was a regular polygon without outworks, but
so strong as to require regular approaches. On the 28th November the first battery of six guns and six
mortars was opened at a distance of 900 yards. and on December 9th a second battery of nine heavy
guns and at the same time a battery of twenty mortars were opened at 500 yards. On the 10th when a
breach was nearly completed, a conditional offer of surrender was made but refused, and next
morning the garrison surrendered at discretion. On the British side the loss was small. In 1783 under
the terms of the treaty of Salbai March 1782, Vasai was restored to the Marathas. At the close of 1802
(December 17th) Bajirav Peshwa, flying from Yeshvantrav Holkar, reached Vasai from Suvarndurg on
the Ratnagiri coast Here he was met 'by Colonel Close and Mr. Elplainstone. his Assistant, and on
December 31st the Treaty of Vasai was concluded. To ensure the Peshwes safety a find detachment
was sent to Vaud and to strengthen the passage from the mainland Vasai island a considerable palm
tree stockade was built at Sopara. ThePeshwa stayed in Vasai till the end of April.
Under the terms of the treaty of Pune (13th June 1817), which was forced on the British by Bajirav's
intrigues and failure to supply his contingent of troops, Vasai with the rest of the north Konkan passed
to the British.

Extra notes:

1. In nallasopara we have cakreshvara mahadeva temple and the lake of the same name. this temple
is at least 1000 years old and it is unique because it has a very beautiful idol of Lord Brahma----

There are hero stones, shivlingams, idols of goddess, ganesha, hanuman, yogini and Vishnu.
2. In the Buddhist text divyAvadAna a vivid description of sopara is given. A sprawling city with a
moat, heavily fortified, busy with market places, houses, palaces, a grand city with 17 gates. The
text gives in detail the story of the merchant turned monk pUrNa of shUrpAraka which is found in
second chapter named pUrNAvadAna.
3. The inscription of ashoka is given below:

ु ां मांगरां करय इनत। आबयिनस आवयहनस वीवयहनस

िेवयियांनपय नपयिनस रयर्य हेवां आह र्िे उचयवच
ु
पियये पवसनस। ितयये अांियये चिनिसयये र्िे बहू मरां करोनत। हे त ् च ु अांबकर्निकय बहू च बहू
ु
नविां च खिां च निनवपय ां च मगरां कर नतसेकटनवचे चे वखो मांगर अपफरे चखोिस ु मांहय फरे
इयां चखो
एिां मांमग ु अपनवनतपयिय िांस यां मे बांभिां समिय
ां रे हेत ां इयां निसांभयटकय नस सनमयपनट। पनत गरुिे ु िांिय
ु
िे एस अांनि च एिस िांम ां मांगरे निमसेवतनवयनपनतिनप पनतिनप॥॥।
4. According to some scholars legendary city of Ophir as mentioned in Old Testament is believed to
be shUrpAraka. King Solomon used to receive a cargo of gold, silver, sandalwood, pearls, ivory,
apes and peacocks every three years. shUrpAraka was indeed a centre of entrepot trade. Even
during the reign of sAtavAhana, trains of precious goods all the way from northern India reached
the busy of port of shUrpAraka via kalyan.
5. Vasai was prized possession of Portuguese and was a connecting link joining Goa with Daman.
Vasai-virar region was a prosperous city and an important strategic point for different empires and
regimes. During the British era Bombay rose to prominence obscuring the ancient city of sopara.

the map of Vasai during Portuguese rule.