GUPTESHWAR CAVE, Gokarna

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 15/07/2016

A supposed cave in the forested area near the village of Gokarna (cow ear), 9 km north of Kathmandu, where KNAB (1990 following a local youngster) saw dolines (closed depressions, sinkholes) behind a wall (not trespassed) in a area that may represent Gokarna Ban, a reserved forest / sacred grove (beware of access restrictions). CULTURAL HISTORY - cave legend: A mythical history associated with this Gupteshwara (literally "hidden Lord" and possibly indicating a Shiva lingam) is narrated in the "ancient" chronicle PARBATIYA (s.a. in: WRIGHT 1877 edited 1990: 112 after: SINGH & GUNANAND 1877) which relates to the Kirati Rajas, who claim to have reigned Nepal since the commencement of the Kali Yuga, the current 432'000 year long aeon: The Kirati Rajas »lived in an inaccessible durbar, built in the jungles of Gokarna. The Kiratis began to kill the jackals which infested the place, and these animals took refuge at Gupteswara, on the banks of Bagmati.«