CHANDANWARI CAVE

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A brand new ancient cave temple believed to be 1'500 years-old is advertised (note 1) as if it had been only recently found by a shepherd near Chandanwari (note 2) on the frequently travelled route to one of India's most popular caves, the sacred shrine Amarnath in Kashmir. Since the item is marketed as a tourist attraction (note 3), the officially distributed -information- is likely to contain a generous share of designed bullshit. SITUATION: Set amidst rocky cliffs and pine trees, the sacred cave shrine of Lord Shiva in Chandanwari hills of South Kashmir … 14 km from the holy cave shrine of Amarnath. … A small foot track has been constructed by the government up to the cave shrine but it is not enough. Amarnath Shrine Board should construct a road to the shrine which is just four to five km from main road (NEW AMARNATH CAVE … 2005.05.30). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2002: A cave shrine with an ice-lingam has been discovered … and small cave with more than one-and-a-half dozen man-made shivingas and one idol of Lord Shiva and another idol of Lord Ganesh were found. The idols, belonging to the third century, have been carved out of the huge rock (CAVE SHRINE FOUND… 2002.06.14). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2003.07: The cave temple complex surrounded by thick birch trees, comprises three in-built caves all dedicated to Lord Shiva in a nine-feet area of white stones. Located just above a tree line of picturesque landscape and sheltered by the golden leaves of trees, the main Shiva statue in black marble is two-feet high and is sculptured of a big rock in the cave. On the two sides of Lord Shiva's murti, there are nearly a dozen small and big lingas. The contents of the third inside cave continue to be a -mystery- due to darkness within … (CHANDANWARI CAVE 2003.07.01) CAVE DESCRIPTION 2003.11: The complex has at least three chambers and a 15-foot statue of the god Shiva stands in the main cave. […] Nomadic Muslim shepherd Muhammad Rafeeq Bochan and his family stumbled upon the Hindu ave temple while grazing their flock [note 4]. A knot of hair on the statue's head, a cobra around its neck, and a hump on one shoulder, which was probably a trident, identify it as Shiva, reports the Indo-Asian News Service (ananova.com/news/story/sm_563330.html?menu= accessed 06.11.2003).CAVE DESCRIPTION 2005.05.30: Housed in a big cave, this shrine is on the threshold of re-establishing the fact that the Amarnath shrine is over 5,000-year-old. The cave temple complex, surrounded by thick growth of birch trees, comprises three in-built caves dedicated to Lord Shiva in a nine-foot area of white stones.Located just above a tree line of the pictureseque landscape and sheltered by the golden leaves of birch trees, the main Shiva statue in black marble is two-foot high and is sculptured out of a big rock in the cave. The statue, which has a trident on one shoulder and a Nagaon the other side, has withstood the onslaught of time. Besides, on two sides of the statue, there are nearly a dzen small and big Lingas which are affected by the weather. However, the contents of the third cave continue to be shrouded in mystery due to the darkness inside it, said noted Shiv scholar Dr B.N. Pandita … (NEW AMARNATH CAVE 2005.05.30) CULTURAL HISTORY - religious folklore: … the sacred cave shrine of Lord Shiva in Chandanwari hills of South Kashmir is all set to re-define the history of annual Amarnath Yatra when pilgrims will throng this new shrine this year. ‘‘Pilgrims will this year throng this new three-mouthed cave shrine of Lord Shiva … ’’ Shri Amarnath Welfare Langar Committee’s Sarvanandan said.Sarvanandan, who has been undertaking welfare activities regarding provision for boarding and lodging facilities free of cost at cave shrine route, said, ‘‘We will take the first batch of pilgrims to new shrine and also set up a langar (community kitchen). … Shiv scholar Dr B.N. Pandita, who, along with a shepherd Haji Mohammad Rafique Bocken, had discovered it at a place called ‘Haatgund’ three years ago. Bocken’s son-in-law Gulam Qadir, while grazing his cattle, discovered the cave shrine and sent letters to the state and Central Government officials, Pandita said. He found that Shaivaits could have built the cave temple centuries ago as part of ‘Rajtarangini,’ the gateway to the ancient culture of Kashmir.According to the manuscript, there were a few religious places connected with Amarnath - the Bhrighu Patti Ashram or Padahav (Pahalgam), the Sathanav Padahav or Ashram (Chandanwari) and the Rajnopal Van Ashram where Lord Rama and and Goddess Sita are believed to have stayed during their visit to Amarnath (NEW AMARNATH CAVE 2005.05.30).zen small and big Lingas which are affected by the weather. However, the contents of the third cave continue to be shrouded in mystery due to the darkness inside it, said noted Shiv scholar Dr B.N. Pandita … (NEW AMARNATH CAVE 2005.05.30) CULTURAL HISTORY - religious folklore: … the sacred cave shrine of Lord Shiva in Chandanwari hills of South Kashmir is all set to re-define the history of annual Amarnath Yatra when pilgrims will throng this new shrine this year. ‘‘Pilgrims will this year throng this new three-mouthed cave shrine of Lord Shiva … ’’ Shri Amarnath Welfare Langar Committee’s Sarvanandan said.Sarvanandan, who has been undertaking welfare activities regarding provision for boarding and lodging facilities free of cost at cave shrine route, said, ‘‘We will take the first batch of pilgrims to new shrine and also set up a langar (community kitchen). … Shiv scholar Dr B.N. Pandita, who, along with a shepherd Haji Mohammad Rafique Bocken, had discovered it at a place called ‘Haatgund’ three years ago. Bocken’s son-in-law Gulam Qadir, while grazing his cattle, discovered the cave shrine and sent letters to the state and Central Government officials, Pandita said. He found that Shaivaits could have built the cave temple centuries ago as part of ‘Rajtarangini,’ the gateway to the ancient culture of Kashmir.According to the manuscript, there were a few religious places connected with Amarnath - the Bhrighu Patti Ashram or Padahav (Pahalgam), the Sathanav Padahav or Ashram (Chandanwari) and the Rajnopal Van Ashram where Lord Rama and and Goddess Sita are believed to have stayed during their visit to Amarnath (NEW AMARNATH CAVE 2005.05.30).