SHIVA, Dehra Dun: Sahastra Dhara (Cave of)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Among the many caving visitors, who cared to notice the –>Shahastra Dhara (Dehra Dun) in travertine (calcareous tufa), it was -- possibly with the exception of WALTON, H R (1911) -- only Liz PRICE (1988b: 32), who has cared to observe here a temple with a lingam housed in a cave chamber though it was already Captain Thomas Skinner (1840? - 1843) of the 31st Regiment in the Bengal Army, who had drawn the attention of the speleological world and religious industry outlet watchers to Sansadhara … the resort of pilgrims on their way to spots of higher veneration, both from their character and situation. They offer their prayers to Mahadeo [Shiva], to whom it is dedicated, and perform their ablutions in the holy cisterns, and, though last, not the least essential of their duties, leave their mite with the brahmin who protects it (SKINNER 1832, 1: 222). SMITH, G (1882: 175) confirms that the petrifying spring known as the Suhusra Dhara (-place of the thousand drippings-), [is] worshipped hyHindoos (SMITH, G 1882). SITUATION: From Dehra Dun (N30°19': E78°02': 700 m asl) at a travelling distance of 14 km north-east along the road towards Dhanoulti and above the precipitous right bank of the Baldi Nadi, a tributary to the Song River. IDENTITY: Compare –>Sahastra Dhara, Dehra Dun, no. 2, which has been described as a relatively smaller cave (or so) nearby the Sahastradhara (TL625943) (CRAVEN, S A 1969: 28) or Shahastradhara (CRAVEN, S A 1969: 27), and is said to be attended by Brahmans from Nagal (CRAVEN, S A 1969: 28 after WALTON, H G 1911: 264).