UMJASAI (Krem)
25.564100,91.861100
Description
A modified natural rock shelter, which is used as a Hindu temple cave sacred to Shiva and serves as a religious site that attracts Hindu wedding parties, Indian Army people posted at Shillong, etc. Little dobt remains that this rock shelter originates from lateral erosion of a sandstone cliff at a point where two geological disturbances meet at right angles at the face of a sandstone outcrop. ETYMOLOGY: The Khasi "ka umjah" translates as »cold water« (SINGH, N 1906: 242) but "ka umja" signifies »a conjee [note 1]« (SINGH, N 1906: 242) and "u sái" (SINGH, N 1906: 181), a short form of "u ksái" (SINGH, N 1906: 49), is the word for »a thread; a fibre« (SINGH, N 1906: 49, 181). SITUATION: On the outskirts of Shillong city and above the left bank of Wah Umjasai (in Hindi, Nepali, etc: Maheshkhola) river which borders the Army Complex on the road to Sohra (Cherrapunjee). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1970: »A small Shiva temple, built round a cave with a lingam [note 2]. An altogether unimpressive establishment. An old Brahman from Bihar is in charge, and there were a good many worshippers, as today is a Hindu holiday« (Fürer Haimendorf 1970.08.24: Diary.- lemurconsulting.com/bamdemo/db/naga/doc accessed 2005.10.27). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1989: »A natural rocky cave by the side of Umjasai stream, about 3 km [sic! more likely: about 12 km along the road] from the [Shillong] peak where Hindus have built a temple [note 3]. The Hindus go there [Maheshkhola Shiva mandir] on Shivaratri day [note 4] every year« (RANA 1989: 17). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2001: The south facing cave entrance (7 m wide and up to 2 m high) leads to a shallow, mostly daylight lit rock shelter. Some 3 m (up to 6 m) from the drip line the ceiling sinks below the concrete floor. A man-made wall divides the space and separates the public section from the sacred one with a floor of glazed tiles. Here, access is only allowed to priests, pujaris and --at least once-- to cave researchers. The spiritual workers proceed up to a statue of Shiva, complete with trident, nandi and a small Parvati, while the cavers squeeze by to try the fabulous tunnel beyond. This closes down but is reputed to connect via a fabulous subterranean tunnel all the way to –>Kamakhya temple on Nilochal Hill (west of Gauhati / Guwahati in Assam) (Gebauer 2001.05.05).
NOTE 1: »conjee, conje, kongy -- rice-water« (WILSON, H H 1855: 258). »congee -- In use all over India for the water in which rice has been boiled. The article being used as one of invalid diet, the word is sometimes applied to such slops generally. Congee also forms the usual starch of Indian washermen. It is from the Tamil kanji, boilings« (YULE & BURNELL 1886, 1903: 245). NOTE 2: The lingam (shivling) put up inside Krem Umjasai is not a natural formation but an imported and worked piece of allochthonous rock. NOTE 3: The »Hindu temple« (RANA 1989: 17) on Shillong Peak (N25°33': E091°52': 1961 m asl) is sacred to the Indian Air Force and dedicated to radar. NOTE 4: Shivaratri, on occasion of the first full moon after the spring equinox in the lunar month of Phalgun (February / March), is when Shiva dances the tandava (cosmic victory dance).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2 | Saint Mary's Grotto | ||
| 7.8 | Mawlai (Khongmen 1994) (Cave near) | ||
| 7.9 | MARAI, Pomlakrai - Nongkrem (Krem) | ||
| 8.8 | TIROT, Lum Diengiei (Krem) | ||
| 8.8 | DIENGIEI (Thliew Lum) | ||
| 11.8 | MAWKYRDOP | ||
| 14.2 | LAITDOM (Cave at) | ||
| 16.7 | MANICK, Laitkroh (Krem) | ||
| 16.7 | MAWPHLANG (Cave near) |