DORAY GUDA CAVERN, 1st
13.375000,76.791700
Description
»Miners tradition« interpreted the visible »mouth of a cavern« as the entrance to a lost, man-made mine, which formerly gave access to an »immense cavern, from whence the whole neighbourhood was supplied with ore. The roof of this is said to have given way, and to have buried the miners of seven villages, with all their cattle [note 1]« (BUCHANAN, F 1807, 2: 41). ETYMOLOGY: »Guda« (BUCHANAN, F 1807, 2: 38) or "gudda", also: gutta, kattu (note 2) is one of the Tamil words for a hill (note 3) and the »Doray Guda … is the only hill in this vicinity that produces the iron ore; but as the same hill in different villages is called by different names, I at one time imagined that the mines had been numerous … At Conli this hill is called Doray Guda, which name I have adopted« (BUCHANAN, F 1807, 2: 38). »Doray Guda« (BUCHANAN, F 1807, 2: 35, 38, 39, 43) is indicated as »Dore Gudda« near N13°22'30”: E076°47'30” (±2.5 km) on AMS sheet ND43-12 Tumkur (U502 series, 1961). SITUATION: About 10 km (±5 km) in a direct line north of Doddaguni (N13°19'58”: E076°45'11” WGS84), a populated place about 45 km along the National Highway NH 206 west of Tumkur (13°20'32”N: 77°06'06”E). SETTING: »… Doray Guda … is about a mile [1.5 km] in length, from five to six hundred yards in width, and is divided into three hummocks. The northernmost of these is the most considerable, and rises to the perpendicular height of four or five hundred feet [120 m or 150 m]. It is situated in the Hagalawadi [note 4] district; but, for what reason I know not, pays its rent to the Amildar of Chica Nayakana Hully [note 5]. This is the only hill in this vicinity that produces the iron ore … On all sides it is surrounded by other low hills; but these produce no iron« (BUCHANAN, F 1807, 2: 38). GEOLOGY: »The whole strata of these hills are vertical, and, like all others that I have seen in the country, run nearly north and south. Where they have been exposed to the weather on a level nearly with the ground, which is generally the case, these strata divide into plates like schistus, and seem to moulder very quickly. In a few places they rise into rocks above the surface, and then they decay into roundish or angular masses. All that I saw were in a state of great decay, so that it was difficult to ascertain their nature; but, no doubt, they are either earthy quartz, or hornstone variously impregnated with iron, and perhaps sometimes with manganese. Within, the masses are whitish, with a fine grained earthy texture ; but outwardly they are covered with a metallic efilorescence, in some places black, in others inclined to blue« (BUCHANAN, F 1807, 2: 38-39). IMMENSE CAVERN: »The miners have a tradition, that formerly there had been dug into the southern face of the largest hummock an immense cavern, from whence the whole neighbourhood was supplied with ore. The roof of this is said to have given way, and to have buried the miners of seven villages, with all their cattle. The appearance of the hill confirms the truth of this tradition, there being evident proofs of a part of it having fallen in; and in the perpendicular surface, left by this convulsion, may be seen the mouth of a cavern, probably a part of the old mine. The time when this happened, is likely to have been very remote; as, lower down than this convulsed surface, there is another mine [–>Doray Guda Cavern, 2nd], which the natives believe to be a natural cavern« (BUCHANAN, F 1807, 2: 41).
NOTE 1: »Ever since, the miners have contented themselves with working on the surface, and even there are in constant fear. An annual sacrifice is offered to prevent the spirit of the hill from overwhelming the miner. She is called Canicul Déváru, or the goddess of ironstone, and Gudada Umma, the mother of the hill; and is represented by the first convenient stone that the workmen find when they come to offer the sacrifice. They also put themselves under the protection of a benevolent male spirit, named Muti Raya, or the pearl king. He is worshipped by offerings of flowers and fruits only, and is represented by a shapeless stone, that is hid in the obscurity of a shrine, which is composed of stones and flags, and which in all its dimensions extends about six feet« (BUCHANAN, F 1807, 2: 42). NOTE 2: "guda" (Sanskrit), globe, ball (Mahabharata), "guda" (Marati) »a stone, esp. a round stone« (BURROW, T & EMENAU, M B 1984: 1695). NOTE 3: "hill" (English), a rounded elevation of limited extent rising above the surrounding land, »a naturally raised area of land, not as high or craggy as a mountain« (OXFORD DICTIONARY 2006). NOTE 4: »Hagalawadi« (BUCHANAN, F 1807, 2: 38); Hagalvadi (India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth 2006: 111 G2), N13°31'21”: E076°44'54” (WGS84 www.nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003). NOTE 5: »Chica Nayakana Hully« (BUCHANAN, F 1807, 2: 38, 46), Chiknayakanhalli (India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth 2006: 111 F2), N13°25'02”: E076°37'22” (WGS84, nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003). »1800 August 20th: Chica Nayakana Hully is a large square town strongly fortified with mud walls … It contains a garden which belongs to the government, is in great disorder, and is rendered disgusting by two Banyan-trees (Ficus Bengalensis) loaded with large bats [conf. Pterops giganteus], whom the people will not disturb« (BUCHAN, F 1807, 2: 47).
Documents
Bibliography 28/03/2016- Buchanan [Hamilton], Francis 1807, 2.
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1800.08.18: »18th August.-- In the morning I went all over Doray Guda …« (BUCHANAN, F 1807, 2: 38).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | DORAY GUDA CAVERN, 2nd | ||
| 18.6 | Gajina Guta Excavation | ||
| 18.9 | CHIKNAYAKANHALLI MINE | ||
| 42.9 | SIDDHARABETTA (Caves on the) | ||
| 51.5 | CHENNARAYADURGA (Caves on the) | ||
| 53.9 | SHIVAGANGA HILL (Caves on the) | ||
| 53.9 | PATALE GANGA, Shivaganga | ||
| 101.9 | CHANNA RAYA CAVE | ||
| 129.2 | RAMULAKONDA CAVES |