JHINJHARI SHELTERS
23.783300,80.366700
Description
Twentyfive (25) unspecified rock shelters (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1956-57, 1973-74), which were said to consist of »caves under protruding sandstone slabs« (SHRIVASTAVA, V K 1997: 33) and are associated with rock art (paintings) depicting »trees and animal figures.« ETYMOLOGY: No autochthonous, indigenous or locally known name has been identified for these rock shelters, which have been referred to by the name of the populated place (village) called Jhingari Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1973-74 (1979) Jhingri Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1982-83 (1985: 201) Jhinjhari Jhinjhri AMS sheet NF44-02 Jubbulpore (U502 series, 1962 edition) Jhinjri SHRIVASTAVA, V K (1997: 33). SITUATION: Somewhere in the outskirts of Jhinjhari (23°46'N: 80°17'E), a village that lies at a distance of 4 km or 6 km south-east of Katni (note 1), a town both on the C.R. (Central Railway) and the National Highway NH7 connecting Jabalpur (23°10'N: 79°57'E) with Allahabad (25°27'N: 81°51'E) and Varanasi (25°20'N: 83°00'E). SITUATION 1997: »These caves are located about 6 km [probably along the road] south-west of Katni (Murawa) town near a village called Jhinjri [note 2]. The site is a hillock facing north-east. The height of the spot is around 1350' [400 m asl] and the relative elevation of the spot is about 200 feet' [60 m] from the surface« (SHRIVASTAVA, V K 1997: 33) or, more likely, about 60 m above the surrounding plain. CAVE DESCRIPTION: »The caves are under protruding sandstone slabs. The growth of wild vegetation does not permit to enter the caves. There are paintings on the surrounding walls. This is an exiting tribal area inhabited by Gonds, Uraons, etc.« (SHRIVASTAVA, V K 1997: 33). CULTURAL HISTORY -- rock art: Wakankar, V S (IAR 1956-7) and C B Trivedi (IAR 1973-4) discovered the site. GUPTA & BANERJEE 1984 in: ROCK ART OF INDIA: 79-81) discuss it's paintings in differentially weathered haematite and lime pigments. CULTURAL HISTORY -- show cave: 1985: »Rock shelter, Jhingri, District Katni.- The protected area was demarcated by fixing cushion pillars and the approach road was constructed« (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1982-83 / 1985: 201). CULTURAL HISTORY -- cave legends: »The caves were un-recognised in 1961 when a survey was conducted (Shrivastava 1971). Recently the Archaeological Survey of India has become aware of the existence of the caves. Enquiries from the surrounding population revealed their ignorance in 1961. Only a few tribes worshipped the caves themselves« (SHRIVASTAVA, V K 1997: 33).
NOTE 1: »Katni (Murawa) town« (SHRIVASTAVA, V K 1997) is positioned as Katni and Murwara near N23°51': E080°24' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003) and indicated as »Murwara« on AMS sheet NF44-02 Jubbulpore (U502 series, 1962 edition) and »Katni (Murwara)« in the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 55 H4) at a travelling distance of 92 km north-east from Jabalpur along the National Highway NH7. »Katni.-- Railway station in the Murwara tahsil of Jubbulpore District, Central Provinces, situated in 23°50'N. and 80°24'E., on the East India Railway, 673 miles from Bombay and 727 miles from Calcutta, adjoining the town of Murwara …« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER, India 1907-1909, 15: 189). NOTE 2: »Jhinjri« (SHRIVASTAVA, V K 1997) is not shown in the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 55 H4) but indicated as »Jhinjhri« on AMS sheet NF44-02 Jubbulpore (U502 series, 1962 edition) at a distance of almost 20 km along the railway line (South Eastern Railway) from Murwara south-east via Ummaria to Pali. NOTE 3: Not seen: SHRIVASTAVA, V K [Virendra Kumar] (1971): Habitat and economy in the upper Son basin.- (Gorakhpur: Uttar Bharat Bhoogol Parishad).
Documents
Bibliography 29/03/2016History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1956 - 1957: V. S. Wakankar (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1956-57 / 1961) discovered the site. 1973 - 1974: C. B. Trivedi (Indian Archaeology: A Review [IAR] 1973-74 / 1979) continued discovering the site. 1997: Virendra Kumar Shrivastava decided to dream up obvious bullshit and to promulgate a tale according to which »the caves were un-recognised in 1961 when a survey was conducted (Shrivastava 1971) [note 3]. Recently [sic! 40 years ago] the Archaeological Survey of India has become aware of the existence of the caves« (SHRIVASTAVA, V K 1997: 33).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32.5 | RUPNATH GUMPHA, Jabalpur - Bahuriband | ||
| 64.6 | BADI GUFA, Bandhavgarh | ||
| 69.3 | PANDVAN SHELTER 2 | ||
| 70.4 | BANDHAVGHAR BAT CAVE (Caves at) | ||
| 80.6 | PUTARIHAU GHATI SHELTER | ||
| 87.3 | PANDVAN SHELTER 1 | ||
| 90.3 | Lalpahar (Cave on the) | ||
| 96.3 | GIDHAILA PAHAR, Ramnagar, Amarpathan (Cave on) | ||
| 107.0 | MAJPAHAR SHELTER |