BHUVESHWARA MAHADEO GUFA

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 27/04/2016

A modified natural temple cave below a larger, gravitationally dislocated slab of granite (about 20 by 15 m wide and a few metres thick), which shelters an almost square main chamber (8 by 8 m wide, 2.5 to 1 m high) and two smaller adjacent rooms used as a kitchen and storage. The main chamber, furnished with a floor of polished marble, is closed on three sides by man-made walls and houses and octagonal pedestal with egg shaped granite lingam with yellow metal nag, sided by small marble statues of Nandi, Ganesh and Parvati. Leaning to the wall is a relievo statue of Hanuman (completely covered with brilliant coloured metal foils) and musical instruments (sarangi, a pair of tablas and a large pair of other, bowl shaped drums). Sunken in the perfectly level floor is a small square fireplace (ceremonial fire pit) –complete with trishul (trident) and ceremonial fire tongues– beside a slightly raised sleeping place with transistor radio, electrical fan and a tin milk container. Erected in front of the cave is a spacious terrace shaded by a tree. The site is sacred to Jains feeding birds which fill the air with jolly twittering (numerous common sparrows (Paser var.) and red vented warblers in addition to a red "helmeted" parakeet). A healthy mungo was lazily strolling around. SITUATION: Less than a kilometre east-north-east of –>Nandia village. Indicated as »Cave« on the Survey of India sheet 45-D/13 (edition 1961).