RANGANATHA SWAMI (Sri Gavi)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

The partly modified natural cave sacred to Ranganatha Swami is, as far as I know, the only cave with a bit of water among the many dry caves and crevisses in the gravitationally dislocated granite boulders of the –>Hampi - Anegundi area. ETYMOLOGY: Ranganatha and Anantasayana are reclining (recumbent) forms of Lord Vishnu and the word -swami- … is a corruption of Skt. suamin, 'Lord.' It is especially used in South India, in two senses: (a) a Hindu idol, especially applied to those of Shiva and Subrahmanyam; especially as Sammy, in the dialect of the British soldier. This comes from the usual Tamil pronouncation sami. (b) The Sanskrit word is used by Hindus as a term of respectful addess, especially to Brahmans (YULE & BURNELL 1886 ed. 1903: 883). SITUATION: At least three cave entrances on a north-eastern flank of a bouldery hill lie within the precincts of a temple perched some 10 or 12 vertical metres above the paddy field covered level of a north-west / south-east running valle that lies at an approximate distance of 2 km west of Anegundi and on the left (northern) bank of Tungabhadra River. It takes less than an hour to reach the site by walking from Hampi Bazaar. A neglected, winding flight of steps lead up to the sacred site which is well known on the Anegundi side. CAVE DESCRIPTION: Not much is known of the cave, except that there seem to be three obvious entrances, all on the same level. The first entrance reached when ascending the steps is triangular in shape and closed by a plastered wall with a small door. Part of the door (two wings) is grilled and allows to peep into some five or six metres of linear rift passage (triangular in cross-section) with a flat level floor that seems to be slightly ascending by two or three degrees. The second entrance, at about halfway (20 or 25 m east-north-east) on the way to the main temple, is also closed with a solid plastered wall with a full door (one wing). Next comes the gate to the (defendable?) temple courtyrd (approximately 15 by 20 m in size. On entering stands on the left-hand side a kind of high veranda or entrance hall supported by 8 pillars in Vijayanagar style (circa 13th to 15th century), which shelters the main entrance, once more closed with a massive, plastered wall. The gate (about 0.75 m wide and 1.5 m high) to the cave proper is framed by neat floral design painted with enamel colour on a yellow background and locked by door (two wings). The iron-grilled sections of the wooden door allowed peeping into the twilight of the first interior, white-washed chamber. Three steps lead down to this about 5 by 5 m wide vestibule, irregular shaped in ground plan, on average 2 m high but obstructed by a huge hanging boulder. Along the the left wall runs a narrow concrete bench and along the right-hand side of the levelled floor a concrete cemented water channel (circa 20 or 25 cm wide and deep) that carries a few centimetres of water. Chiselled from near the base of the far wall is a veerated figure (idol, unidentified) in relief. A plastered wall left of this figure closes off the dark section of the cave, accessible by a single winged full wooden door (approximately 60 by 130 cm) secured with a locked chain. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1845: Bijanugger … A few caves, both natural and artificial, occur in the granite. The natural caverns are usually fissures roofed by precipitated blocks, or the spaces left between great superimposed masses of rock, and not, as in limestone, laterite, &c, galleries, or caverns in the substance of the rock itself. The rock temple to Rungasami is in a low, dark cavern, formed partly by a fissure, and partly by artificial means (NEWBOLD, T J 1845c: 518). CAVE POTENTIAL - Outlook: Emitting a much wellcoming current of cool air (draught) combined with a trickle of water makes this cave the most inspiring in the –>Hampi- Anegundi area. A local informant (personal communication 22.02.2004) was perfectly true when he said exploring the cave requires orch lights. His point, that the cave is believed to continue for incredible distances, needs verification by a team of cavers experienced in mapping complex maze caves. The cave was locked when I walked there on 1st March 2004, entertained by digestive surprises (Salmonella var.) and interesting body temperatures. The resident priest, obviously hasting to begin a dear puja (circa 09h30 or 10h00), could not refrain from strongly recommending (in good English) the good water. He seemed to be dedicated and cooperative.