SIDDESHWARAGAVI

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

An assymetrically vaulted and whitewashed cave entrance (presumably about 3 m wide and 2 m), which had been characterised by a blue-painted, built-in wall with a masonry-framed doorway and an artifically levelled floor covered with slabs of rock, gives access to a modified natural temple cave in what appears to be a sandstone which, perhaps, belongs to the Dharwar Formation of Middle Proterozoic / Lower Purana age). ETYMOLOGY: So far, I saw of this temple cave called Siddeshwar Guhe youtube.com/watch?v=3Xx-AhANN-c (accessed 2011.10.24) and Siddeshwaragavi whoyiz.com/india/Karnataka/Sirsangi/55440 (accessed 2011.10.26). DERIVATIVE: Little doubt remains that the so-called –>Siddapana Gavi near Murgod (Murgodo) is either identical with the Siddeshwara Gavi (Sirsangi) or with the –>Varahi Siddeshwara Gavi (Yekkeri). SITUATION: Not only above the southern (orographically right) bank of the Malprabha River and on the southern slopes of the sandstone hills, which separates the Parasgad taluk in the southernmost corner of the Belgaum district into nearly two equal parts (note 1), but also on the outskirts of the village of Sirsangi (note 2), which is said to lie at a travelling distance of 20 km / 12 miles (whoyis.com 2011.10.26) or 24 km (youtube.com/user/siddeshone) approximately north-west from the small town of Saundatti (note 3), which is also known as Sevandatti (note 4) and as Sagadatti (note 5). There are two small hillocks at the outskirts of the village, one having a cave locally called Maunappanagavi and the hillock is called Kallupuragudda (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirsangi_Kalika_Temple accessed 2011.10.26). APPROACH: About 2 km in an unidentified direction from the bus stand at the village of Sirsangi (note 6), some 200 steps lead up (note 7) the cave entrance on another hillock near Kalika temple (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirsangi_Kalika_Templeaccess… 2011.10.26). CAVE DESCRIPTION: Inside the cave is a Shivalinga (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirsangi_Kalika_Temple accssed 2011.10.26). CAVE POTENTIAL: Apparently not far from the Siddeshwaragavi near Sirsangi lies –>Maunappanagavi (note 8) and, some 10 km in a direct line further south-west, –>Varahi Siddheswaragavi, Yekkeri.ssed 2011.10.26). CAVE POTENTIAL: Apparently not far from the Siddeshwaragavi near Sirsangi lies –>Maunappanagavi (note 8) and, some 10 km in a direct line further south-west, –>Varahi Siddheswaragavi, Yekkeri.