RAMTIRTHA SWAMI (Cave of Swami)

(Yamkeshwar - IN)
30.116700,78.316700
Grottocenter / carte

Description

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A difficult cave entrance leads to the most suitable and spacious of the caves at –>Rishikesh (note 1), from where ELIADE (1996: 347) narrates how -we stumbled upon the most contemplative, most spacious of all caves, a true hermitage retreat where Swami Ramtirtha, the most incomparable of all spiritual masters of India, had dwellt for six months. Having negotiated the entry with difficulties, we sat on the cold cave floor- (note 2). ETYMOLOGY: -Ramtirtha- is not identified but -swami- is a title of respect meaning 'lord of the self'; given to initiated Hindu monks (LONELY PLANET, India 2005 glossary: 1112). SITUATION: Unidentified. Somewhere above the left (south) bank of Ganges river below –>Brahmapuri near Rishikesh (N30°07': E78°19' WGS84).A difficult cave entrance leads to the most suitable and spacious of the caves at –>Rishikesh (note 1), from where ELIADE (1996: 347) narrates how -we stumbled upon the most contemplative, most spacious of all caves, a true hermitage retreat where Swami Ramtirtha, the most incomparable of all spiritual masters of India, had dwellt for six months. Having negotiated the entry with difficulties, we sat on the cold cave floor- (note 2). ETYMOLOGY: -Ramtirtha- is not identified but -swami- is a title of respect meaning 'lord of the self'; given to initiated Hindu monks (LONELY PLANET, India 2005 glossary: 1112). SITUATION: Unidentified. Somewhere above the left (south) bank of Ganges river below –>Brahmapuri near Rishikesh (N30°07': E78°19' WGS84).

Documents

Bibliography 06/01/2018

History

EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1930 (±1), October: Mircea ELIADE (1996: 343) and an unidentified guide (no name mentioned) visited and discussed with the resident troglodyte 'Naga baba' (unidentified) aspects of Vachaspati's commentary on the Vedanta Sutra Bhasya of Shankaracharya (9th century). Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Caves nearby

Distance (km)NameLength (m)Depth (m)
0.0MAHARISHI DYANPITH CAVES
0.0GANESH GUFA, Rishikesh
0.0RISHIKESH (Eliade 1996: 347) (Caves at)
0.0PANDAVA CAVE, Rishikesh
1.6BRAHMAPURI (Eliade 1996: 343) (Cave at)
7.4VASHISHT GUFA, Shivpuri
17.2HARDWAR (Eliade 1996: 317) (Cave at)
19.6BHIMA GHORA
21.0RISHIKA MUNI GUFA