GAUMUKH, Bhairo Ghati

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Boulders forming an arch across the river Bhagirathi had been pointed out to Captain Thomas Skinner (1800? - 1843) as the the celebrated Cow's Mouth (note 1) from which the river Ganges issues. Compare –>Gaumukh, Gangotri Bamak. SITUATION: On the opposite shore of the Jahnavi (SKINNER 1832, 2: 42) at Bhairoghati, Bhairo Ghati or Bhyramghattee and Bhaironghati (note 2), a place (note 3) at the confluence where the rivers Jahnavi or Jhannevie (note 4) and Bhagirathi or Bhagiruttee (note 5) meet. ARCH DESCRIPTION: We are placed on a little pinnacle, just large enough to contain our party, and over-looking the confluence of the Jahnavi with the Bhagirathi. … The rock, which has little more remarkable in it than a cavity apparently worn by the water, once joined a neighbour on the other side, and formed an arch, very little above the surface of the stream; then it resembled the mouth of a cow, and was worshipped from the opposite shore of the Jahnavi. As nothing could be seen beyond it, he river was supposed to issue from the mouth; and so great a miracle merited suitable devotion (SKINNER 1832, 2: 41-42).Boulders forming an arch across the river Bhagirathi had been pointed out to Captain Thomas Skinner (1800? - 1843) as the the celebrated Cow's Mouth (note 1) from which the river Ganges issues. Compare –>Gaumukh, Gangotri Bamak. SITUATION: On the opposite shore of the Jahnavi (SKINNER 1832, 2: 42) at Bhairoghati, Bhairo Ghati or Bhyramghattee and Bhaironghati (note 2), a place (note 3) at the confluence where the rivers Jahnavi or Jhannevie (note 4) and Bhagirathi or Bhagiruttee (note 5) meet. ARCH DESCRIPTION: We are placed on a little pinnacle, just large enough to contain our party, and over-looking the confluence of the Jahnavi with the Bhagirathi. … The rock, which has little more remarkable in it than a cavity apparently worn by the water, once joined a neighbour on the other side, and formed an arch, very little above the surface of the stream; then it resembled the mouth of a cow, and was worshipped from the opposite shore of the Jahnavi. As nothing could be seen beyond it, he river was supposed to issue from the mouth; and so great a miracle merited suitable devotion (SKINNER 1832, 2: 41-42).