KRISHNA CAVE (Tod 1829)
27.500000,77.466700
Description
An unidentified sacred "cave" of unspecified nature (compare the –>Krishna Cave at Vrindavan), which is associated with Krishna, reported TOD (note 1) from the village of »Goverdhan« (Govardhan) in the Vrij / Braj / Braja Mandal (note 2): »A cave in this hill was the first shrine on his apotheosis, whence his miracles and oracles were made known to the Yadús. From this cave (Gop'ha) is another of his titles --Gop'Nat'h, 'Lord of the cave,' distinct from his epithet Gopi-nat't, Lord of the Gopi,' or pastoral nymphs … The worship of Crishna in ancient days … was chiefly celebrated in caves, of which there were many scattered over India. The most remarkale were those at Girdhana in Vrij; Gaya in Behar [Bihar]; Gop'h-nat'h on the shores of Saurashtra [in Gujarat]; and Jalindra [Jullundur?) on the Indus.« IDENTITY: The identity of the Krishna Cave (TOD, J 1829) eludes my certainty in believe (compare: Shri –>Krishna Janmbhoomi). SITUATION: The village of Govardhan (in Sanskrit: Girdhana; also: Govardhana, Goverdhan N27°30': E77°28' nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003) lies 21 km (India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth 2006: 21 E4) or 25 km (LONELY PLANET, India 1999: 407; 2005: 370) west of Mathura (also: Muttra N27°30': E77°41') on the road to Deeg / Dig (N27°28': E77°20'), and at travelling distances of 75 km NW of Agra, and 166 km approximately south of Delhi.
NOTE 1: TOD, J (1829-1832 / 1914, 1997, 1: 433 + note; 1830: 311 + note) is the »TODD (Relig. Etabl. Merwar Trans. R. As. Soc., II, 311)« referred to by ANDRIAN (1891: 47). NOT SEEN: VAUDEVILLE, Charlotte (1976): Braj: Lost and found.- VAUDEVILLE, Charlotte (1980): The Govardhan myth in northern India.- NOTE 2: »Brij Bhoomi« (LONELY PLANET, India 1997: 378) or »Braj Bhoomi, the 'Land of Eternal Love', existed only in the collective consciousness of Hindus until it was rediscovered by 16th century scholars in the physical world« (LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 367). Since then Vrij / Braj / Braja Mandal (in Sanskrit: Vraja Mandala) is situated in the alluvial plains washed by Jamuna River. It is the pastoral country in the Mathura district (between N27°14’: E77°17’ and 27°58’: E78°13’), where the language Braj Bhasa is spoken. The entire region is a pilgrimage centre for Vaishnavas, for it is identified with the place of Vraja, the place of Krishna's childhood and youth, which figures prominently in many Puranas. Every square foot is sacred to Krishna. The Hindi (etc.) "bhumi" means earth, soil, and "bhrajj" (Sanskrit), to fry, parch, roast.
Documents
Bibliography 02/04/2016- Andrian, Ferdinand 1891; Tod, James 1829-1832 edited 1914, 1920, 1978, 1997), 1830; Vaudeville, Charlotte 1976, 1980.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21.4 | KRISHNA JANMBHOOMI (Shri) | ||
| 24.8 | KRISHNA CAVE, Mathura: Vrindavan | ||
| 60.2 | HATHRAS TAHKHANA | ||
| 100.6 | UDDALAKA RISHI ka TAPOSTHANA | ||
| 112.9 | TUGHLAQABAD UNDERGROUNDS | ||
| 113.5 | ARAVALLI BIODIVERSITY PARK (Cave in) | ||
| 239.5 | NANOD SHELTERS | ||
| 239.5 | GUNA CAVE (Oliphant 1852) | ||
| 282.6 | GORAKHNATH CAVE, Haridwar |