GORAKHNATH CAVE, Srinagar

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

What appears to be a modified natural cave (temple cave) dedicated to Guru Gorakhnath / Goraknath and sacred to Hindus is situated below Srinagar town in the Alaknanda valley and in the back of Bhairom temple (BRIGGS 1938 edited 1973: 80) or just opposite Shankar Math and in the courtyard of a house, [where] a huge rock protrudes from the mountain slopes (pauri.nic.in/Nextpage512.htm accessed 05.09.2004). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1938: The shrine consists of three recesses in the rock and contains a gilded image of Gorakhnath, some 15 cm high: The yoni linga is also found in the cave, and … the pujari there claims that the cave used to be an important temple of Goraknath, but that it was filled with river-sand during the Gohna Lake flood of 1894, and that, although it was dug out later, it has ceased to attract as much attention as formerly (BRIGGS 1938 edited 1973: 80). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2004: A tiny unobtrusive door (through which [one] has to literally crawl) will take you inside the rock t the Guru's cave. An image of him has been installed there, and the trustees look after the place (pauri.nic.in/Nextpage512.htm accessed 05.09.2004). CULTURAL HISTORY - religious folklore: The prayer at this temple is conducted by the sadhus of Gorokh Panths (followers of Gorakhnath) of the -Nath Sect-. Sankaracharya who had knowledge of Shiva Shakti felt that the worship of Shiv Pooja in this cave would be ideal. So the place has been accepted to be the best for Sadhana. Guru Gorakhnath did his penance at this place and it is said that he took -Samadhi- in this cave. According to Atkinson the tomb was built in 1667 but according to the imprint on the copper plate lying with the pujari, it was in 1677 that the Samadhi was renovated. Presently the cave is totally abandoned and worn out and till date no remuneration activities have been done to protect the structure of archeological & historical importance … (pauri.nic.in/Nextpage512.htm accessed 05.09.2004).