ADHAR DEVI GUFA

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A modified natural temple cave among fallen granite boulders (note 1) is sacred to the mother goddess Adhar Devi or Arbuda Devi (TOURIST GUIDE MAP 1997). SITUATION (note 2): On the northern fringes of Mount Abu town and about 2 km along the road from the R.S.R.T.C. (Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation) bus stand. An alley lined with about 20 or 30 stalls of tourist and pilgrim paraphernalia vendors (colourful sacred and profane kitsch and refreshments: travel bags, soft drinks, fake binoculars, tea, glass bangles, plastic guns, sweets, etc) leads to the base of 360 or 365 steps (note 3) ascending to the temple compound about two thirds up a hill (Adhar / Arbuda Pahar?) which rises approximately 80 or 100 m from the road. Tucked away into a corner of the boulder strewn compound (no shoes, cameras, or leather items are allowed inside) with several modified shelters (human use: sacred sites, dwelling, storage) lies the low cave entrance (almost 2 m wide, less than 1 m high) to thesacred cave. CAVE DESCRIPTION: One has to stoop below a wedged boulder to get into the entrance passage (triangular profile, 1 m wide, 2 m high, 2 m long) to the almost circular but irregular shaped main chamber (8 m in diameter, up to 4 m high). This is characterised by the odour of sport's foot (maintained by sacrificed milk turned rancid), pink coloured whitewash covering the plastered walls and vaulted ceiling, and beautiful polished marble slabs on the levelled floor. To the right-hand side stands a raised platform where a not corruptible pujari is happy to accept cash. CULTURAL HISTORY: Put up on the left is a group of three women sized, brand-new sari clothed and painted plaster statues representing the three aspects of Kali: Laxmi (wealth), Saraswati (knowledge) and Durga (power). On the floor straight ahead and leaning to the wall lies a long chiselled slab of rock (about 2 m long, 0.4 m wide), perhaps the only ancient item: It shows the ten matrikas in relievo under a thic coating of glossy and bright orange coloured anti-corrosive paint. coating of glossy and bright orange coloured anti-corrosive paint.