YONI DVARA, Gaya
24.683300,84.966700
Description
A dwar situated somewhere on »… the hill called Burrum Jooeen [note 1], before described [where?], is properly Bruhm Jain. The very one, we may suppose, Fa Hian [FAXIAN] to be describing, on the top is a modern temple, near to it are two masses of rock, between which some pilgrims and others force themselves, believing that none but true born can accomplish the feat, in other words, those who fail are considered bastards« (KITTOE 1847b: 968-969). SITUATION 1871: CUNNINGHAM (1871: 386-87) positions »the Divine Mountain, called Brahma-juïn, or Brahma-yoni« at a distance of »one mile« (1.6 km or so) south-west of Bodhgaya (N24°42': E084°59'). SITUATION 1927: DEY (1927 edited 1990, 1994: 64) places the temple of Mangalâ Gaurî, where Sati's breast is said to have fallen, south of Gaya, on the Bhâsnâth spur of the Brahmayoni range.DEY (1927 edited 1990, 1994: 216) lists »Yoni-dvara.– A sacred place in the Brahma-yoni hill at Gaya, from which the name of the hill is derived.« CULTURAL HISTORY: »After converting the Jatilas he [Buddha] preached to them the celebrated Fire Sermon, said to have been delivered on the eminence now called Brahma Yoen [note 3] near Gaya and possibly inspired by the spectacle of grass fires which at some seasons may be seen creeping over every hill-side in an Indian night« (ELIOT 1921 edited 1962, vol.1, VIII.1.2).
NOTE 1: »Burrum Jooeen« (KITTOE (1847b), »Brahma-juïn« (CUNNINGHAM 1871), or »Brahma Yoen« (1921 edited 1962, vol.1, VIII.1.2) is the Brahmayoni range of hills in Gaya district, Bihar. NOTE 2: ELIOT (1921 edited 1962, vol.1 note 335): »Brahmayoni. I make this suggestion about grass fires because I have myself watched them from this point.«
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 | JAYACHCHANDRA CAVE | ||
| 10.1 | PRAGBODHI CAVE, Kiryama: Dhongra Pahar | ||
| 11.6 | GOPI KUBHA | ||
| 11.6 | KARAN CHAUPAR KUBHA | ||
| 11.6 | LOMAS RISHI KUBHA | ||
| 11.6 | PATALA GANGA, Barabar: Nagarjuni | ||
| 11.6 | SUDAMA KUBHA | ||
| 11.6 | VADATHIKA KUBHA | ||
| 11.6 | VAHIJAKA KUBHA |