BASAJA GUFA
27.193100,86.630600
Description
One of the four modified natural temple caves (note 1) at the pilgrimage site of –>Halesi / Maratika. SITUATION: The cave entrance lies above the meadow where markets take place during pilgrimage season, and on the south-western flank of the Halesi cave hill, immediately above the resurgence (karst spring) of the village, the source of Mahadev Khola / Maratika Chu.CAVE DESCRIPTION (note 2): A well-trodden path leads to the cave that was once was gated. For Hindus, the stone standing at the relatively small entrance (4 m wide, about 2.7 m high), represents the bull which is the guardian of the cave, while the rocky calcite concretions forming a line on its roof represents a snake. Going into the cave by a 10 m wide and 5 m high tunnel-like passage —the previously scree covered floor has been levelled and topped with a concrete in addition to steps easing visitation— one reaches the foot of a stairway recently constructed with funds given by His Majesty the Queen to the Archaeological Department. Inside the cave's main chamber a concrete stairway leads to a platform built for the convenience of visitors looking for the attractions of the cave. The upper part of the chamber is an aven opening to the outside in the form of a chimney. It is interpreted as the opening by which Shiva fled at the time of his flight from the demon Vrashasura / Bhasmasur / Basmansur. It is also still possible to see the print made by his foot as he leapt into space, and a another stone in the shape of an elephant's head jutting out from the rock face. It is thought to represent the other one of the two guardians of the cave, which were installed by Shiva. Further, a water-dropping oracle is accessible, where the gender of a child to be yet conceived is determined. CULTURAL HISTORY: The Tibetan pilgrimage guides to the –>HALESI / MARATIKA cave site, like oral tradition, tell that when Padmasambhava was meditating in this cave he was disturbed by a demoness. A struggle took place, in which the Indian saint was victorious, killing and decapitating the demoness. Later he flew away into space but instead of taking the trouble to exit by the cave entrance, he left the cave without the slightest detour straightforward through the ceiling, thus leaving the collapse doline behind. In his "The joyous tempura of melodious sound: Real treasure of the Halesi / Maratika caves, a holy place [which confers] immortality" –>BYA 'BREL RINPOCHE (s.a., circa 1990, in: BUFFETRILLE 1994d: 58) calls Basaja Gufa »cave [endowed with] glorious qualities« and gives a detailed cave description: »Below this sacred spot [Cave of Meditation endowed with a 'mandala', –>Shiva Mandir Gufa] is the entrance to a cave which opens to the south-west. It is not very big, but once inside it is spacious and high and hundreds of people can stand there. Inside there are many marvellous [signs] that have appeared naturally, such as images of the Body, Speech and Mind [of the Buddha], hand and foot prints, a white conch, etc., and when beings endowed with good karma come there on pilgrimage, a dew or nectar appears. Its upper opening, deep and wide, opens directly and freely [to the sky]. [This cave] is famed as the place to practice the transfer [of the conscious principle] towards the celestial domains.« CAVE POTENTIAL - Prospects: No obvious leads are visible, but the levelled and cement concrete topped scree pile below the aven might have buried and choked a possible continuation leading east towards the neighbouring –>Shiva Mandir Gufa.
NOTE 1: PAVEY (1976: 17) registered the cave as No. 24. NOTE 2: WALTHAM (1971h) understood that the cave »consists of a large passage 30 m long leading to a chamber 50 m in height, width and length, illuminated by an opening in the apex of the roof. The cave is now isolated in the crest of a ridge, and so completely inactive.« NOTE 3: BUFFETRILLE (1994d) considered aspects of cultural history.
Documents
Bibliography 15/07/2016- Blum, Betsy 1988; Buffetrille, Katia 1994a, 1994c, 1994d; Chatrel Rinpoche (1994); Giri, D & Giri, B P (1994); Macdonald & Dvagspo Rinpoche (1981: 263); MacDonald, Alexander W (1985); Munthe, Jens, West, R M, Lukacs, J R & Shresta, T B 1975; Ngag dbang chos 'phel rgya mtsho (s.a., circa 1992. In: –>Buffetrille 1994b); Nyang nyi ma 'od zer [1124-1192† or 1136-1204†] (1989); 'O rgyen gling pa [1329-1367†]; Pavey, Andrew 1976; Scherzer, Uwe1993; Waltham, A C 1971h.
Cavités proche
| Distance (km) | Nom | Longueur (m) | Profondeur (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | BHAIRAB GUFA, Maratika / Halesi | ||
| 0.0 | DUNGDELIMA GUFA | ||
| 0.0 | HALESI / MARATIKA (Caves at) | ||
| 0.0 | MARATIKA PHUG | ||
| 0.9 | Maratika Cave | ||
| 41.5 | SHIVA, Bhojpur, Koshi zone, Nepal (Cave of) | ||
| 42.1 | TAKESHWAR (Cave at) | ||
| 68.5 | CHHOYANG CAVE | ||
| 70.8 | KUMJUNG (Cave near) |