RISHIKA MUNI GUFA
29.966700,78.183300
Description
An unspecified sacred cave (man-made cave temple or natural temple cave) associated with Muni Rishika features visual and accoustic phenomena. Possibly identical with the cave at –>Hardwar (ELIADE 1996: 317). ETYMOLOGY: »Rishi -- Any poet, philosopher, saint or sage; originally a sage whom the hymns of the Vedas were revealed« (LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 1111). »Muni -- An inspired saint, Hindu« (IMPERIAL GAZETTER 1907-1909, 25: xix). SITUATION: At Hardwar (note 1) near the Bilwa Tirtha, the ceremonial bathing place, which is not only noted for the Shiva Dhara and a great bel tree but also for a Shiva lingam near which both Narada Muni and the Maha Ashvatara Nag (noted for a "vajra" jewel on his head) dwells, who sometimes appears as a sage and sometimes as a deer. CULTURAL HISTORY: »In a cave to the left lived the Muni Rishika and here on the fourteenth of the dark half of Shrawan [note 2] a light is seen and the voices of people talking are heard« (ATKINSON 1882, 11 edited 1991, 2: 339 after the "ancient" (medieval?) Kedara Khanda, a Sanskrit geography claiming to be part of the Skanda Purana).
NOTE 3: Haridwar (Haradwar, Hardwar, "gateway of the gods") at N29°58': E78°10' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003; IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 13: 51). NOTE 2: The lunar month of Shravan (also Savan, Sawan, Sharawan, Sharavan, Shrawan, Sravan, Srawan) falls due in July / August.
Documents
Bibliography 14/05/2016- Atkinson, Edwin T 1882, 1991.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | VAISHNO DEVI, Haridwar (Cave of) | ||
| 1.6 | GORAKHNATH CAVE, Haridwar | ||
| 1.6 | MARKANDEYA, Kuhu nala (Cave of) | ||
| 1.8 | BHIMA GHORA | ||
| 4.0 | HARDWAR (Eliade 1996: 317) (Cave at) | ||
| 21.0 | MAHARISHI DYANPITH CAVES | ||
| 21.0 | GANESH GUFA, Rishikesh | ||
| 21.0 | RISHIKESH (Eliade 1996: 347) (Caves at) | ||
| 21.0 | RAMTIRTHA SWAMI (Cave of Swami) |