JATASHANKAR GUFA, Kalpeshwar

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A so-called rock temple entered through a cave of dubious nature and dimensions (temple cave) and possibly containing a dwar (note 1), is venerated at Kalpeshwar (also: Kalpeshvar, Dhyan badri), a Hindu temple where Shiva's head and jata (hair) or dreadlocks are worshipped. SITUATION: Kalpeshwar (note 2) lies among thick forests in the Valley of Urgam and high above the western (right) bank of Alaknanda river (KAUR 1985: 96, location map on page 95). APPROACH: To get the Kalpeswara Temple (2100 m), you first travel by bus to the village of Helang [note 3], 14 km south [south-west?] of Joshimath [N30°34': E079°34']. From Helang you walk 9 km to the village of Urgam, which has basic accommodation and food. From there it is a 1.5 km walk to Kalpeswara Temple, which is dedicated to the jata (hair) of Lord Siva (note 4). CAVE DESCRIPTION: A rock temple, the passage to which is through a cave (KAUR 1985: 96). CULTURAL HISTORY - cave legend: The Pandava brothers of Mahabharata fame decded to pay homage to Shiva but the latter was not interested in meeting them, only because the Pandavas were guilty of -gotra hatya- (killing their brethren). Seeing the Pandavas coming, the Lord disguised himself as a bull. But the Pandavas saw through Shiva's disguise. Realising that his disguise had not worked, the bull tried to plunge himself underground. But Bhima was swift and held on the hind legs of the bull, thus preventing the beast from vanishing. In the struggle that ensued, different parts of Lord Shiva's body appeared at various places in Kedarkhand. The forehead showed up at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu (Nepal), the hump of the bull at Kedarnath, the navel including the torso at Madhmaheshwar, the arms at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, and the matted hair (Jatashankar) at Kalpeshwar in the beautiful valley of Urgam.A so-called rock temple entered through a cave of dubious nature and dimensions (temple cave) and possibly containing a dwar (note 1), is venerated at Kalpeshwar (also: Kalpeshvar, Dhyan badri), a Hindu temple where Shiva's head and jata (hair) or dreadlocks are worshipped. SITUATION: Kalpeshwar (note 2) lies among thick forests in the Valley of Urgam and high above the western (right) bank of Alaknanda river (KAUR 1985: 96, location map on page 95). APPROACH: To get the Kalpeswara Temple (2100 m), you first travel by bus to the village of Helang [note 3], 14 km south [south-west?] of Joshimath [N30°34': E079°34']. From Helang you walk 9 km to the village of Urgam, which has basic accommodation and food. From there it is a 1.5 km walk to Kalpeswara Temple, which is dedicated to the jata (hair) of Lord Siva (note 4). CAVE DESCRIPTION: A rock temple, the passage to which is through a cave (KAUR 1985: 96). CULTURAL HISTORY - cave legend: The Pandava brothers of Mahabharata fame decded to pay homage to Shiva but the latter was not interested in meeting them, only because the Pandavas were guilty of -gotra hatya- (killing their brethren). Seeing the Pandavas coming, the Lord disguised himself as a bull. But the Pandavas saw through Shiva's disguise. Realising that his disguise had not worked, the bull tried to plunge himself underground. But Bhima was swift and held on the hind legs of the bull, thus preventing the beast from vanishing. In the struggle that ensued, different parts of Lord Shiva's body appeared at various places in Kedarkhand. The forehead showed up at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu (Nepal), the hump of the bull at Kedarnath, the navel including the torso at Madhmaheshwar, the arms at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, and the matted hair (Jatashankar) at Kalpeshwar in the beautiful valley of Urgam.