TAPKESHWAR CAVE (Blue painted)
30.316700,78.033300
Description
A prospering religious buisness establishment (note 1) is centered around a modified natural temple cave in conglomerate (KUBASSEK, J 1981: 37), complete with a lingam (speleothem?), which attracts venerators and is not only coated with light blue coloured enamel paint (note 2) and sacred to Hindu worshippers but also said to represent Shiva, associated with Drona (Dronacharya). Most serious caving visitors ignored that he cave is in conglomerate but estimated in one way or another 2 m and 10 m, and suggested that it originates from lateral erosion of the Tons River (KUBASSEK, J 1981: 37). SITUATION: Above the south-east (orographically left) bank of the Tons Nadi (river) and about 5 km in a direct line approximately north-west from the Dehra Dun (note 3) clock tower, in the Garhi cantonment, and not only in an unspecified spatial relation to the Tapkeshwar Mahadev mandir (temple) itself but also to the orange painted –>Tapkeshwar Cave. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1972: Relatively »small stalactites and stalagmites« of unidentified size, which are »found at Tapkeshwar« (BOSE, S C 1972, 1976, 1979: 24), are said to consist of relatively »small stalactites« of unidentified size »at Tapkeshwar temple« (BOSE, S C 1972, 1976, 1979: 148). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1981: »A Tons-folyó a Garhwal Himalájalepusztuásából származó fiatal konglomerátumos mészköbe vágta be a medr#et. Látogatásuunk idején, 1980 novemberében a monszun esözései már elmútak, épp kis víz volt a folyóban, ezért jól megfigyelhettük a laterális erózió hatására a meder falában képzödött üregeket. A barlangok külöbözö, 2-10 m magasságban fordulnak. A folyó bevágódását követöen jöttek létre az újabb, kisebb, alacsonyabban elhelyezkedö embrionalis üregek, melyek csak fokozatosan nyerték el a megasabban levö idösebb barlangok lassú pusztulását jelzik a felszínre nyló beszakadások« (KUBASSEK 1981: 37, illustration 3). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1988: »At the north, top end [of Dehra Dun] is Robber's Cave, ... whilst further downstream near Garhi is Tapkeshwar temple. This is dedicated to Shiva and is neatly built into a cave. The interior is painted in light blue and small shrines have been built in any available recesses. There is also a lingum [lingam] (a phallic symbol of Shiva's productive powers) situated under a trip. The next cave or rock shelter is painted orange [see: Orange painted –>Tapkeshwar Cave] and I think has been made into a home for the Sadhus (holy men)« (PRICE 1988b: 32). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1996: »Tapkeshwar Temple is dedicated to Siva [Shiva]. It's beside a stream, which (when flowing) is directed onto the lingam« (LONELY PLANET, India 1996: 373, location map 372; 1997: 384, location map 383). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1999: »Tapkeshwar Temple …[is] set beside a pretty little river in a damp cave, where water constantly drips onto the lingam. A little donation is asked. The cave is reached by a long set of steps, leading down to the river [Tons], with several small shrines along the way« (LONELY PLANET, India 1999: 411, location map: 410) CAVE DESCRIPTION 2001: »Tapkeshwar Temple is dedicated to Shiva. It's set beside a pretty little river [the Tons] in a damp cave, where water constantly drips onto the lingam. A little donation is asked. A large fair [The large Tapkeshwar Mahadev Mela] is held here on Shivaratri day (usually in March)« (LONELY PLANET, India 2001: 378, location map: 377; LONELY PLANET, North India 2001: 479, location map: 478). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2005: »An unusual and popular Shiva shrine is inside a small dripping cave in a scenic setting on the banks of the Tons Nadi river« (LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 405). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2009: »In a scenic setting on the banks of the Tons Nadi River [note 4], you'll find an unusual and popular Shiva shrine inside a small dripping cave« (LONELY PLANET, India 2009: 463). CAVE DESCRIPTION, undated: »Tapkeshwar is a cave temple dedicated to Lord Shiva on the banks of a seasonal river. Here, water falls on a shivling drop by drop from a rock and hence the name Tapkeshwar« (ramatoursindia.com/destination_d.html accessed 2002.10.13) CAVE DESCRIPTION, undated: »Tapkeshwar Mahadev temple… on the banks of a seasonal river dedicated to Lord Shiva is the only significant temple in Dehradun. Beside the river are steps that lead to a cave in which water drips from the ceiling on a shivling. It is after this dripping of water that the temple has got its name 'Tapkeshwar’. Legends associate this temple with the time of the Mahabharata when, it is believed, Lord Shiva made milk to flow from this cave for Ashwathama, the son of Guru Dronacharya, the teacher of both Kauravas and Pandavas« (goamit.com/cityguide_dehradoon.html accessed 26.12.2004). CULTURAL HISTORY - human use: Shivaratri (note 5) is a festival »celebrated in style with carnival rides and stalls at a picturesque riverside cave temple on the outskirts of Dehra Dun« (LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 401). »The [Tapkeshwar] shrine is the site of the popular annual Shivaratri festival« (LONELY PLANET, India 2009: 463). CULTURAL HISTORY - pious legend: At least one Internet webshite (note 6) narrates a tale according to which, literally quoted »It is believed that during Dwaparyuga, this place was abode of Guru Dronacharaya [note 7], who lived here with his family. Since then, the cave was known as Drona Gufa. One of the famous heroes of Mahabharata and son of Guru Drona, Ashwathama was born here . When Ashwathama was very young, the poor father could not find any milk for him. The Guru was too poor to afford a cow. It was a matter of worry to the great master. One day, when young Ashwathama was crying for milk, the helpless Guru advised him to pray and worship Lord Shiva, who would bless him with milk. Ashwathama did so. Pleased with the young boy's tough penance, Lord Shiva appeared before him in the garb of Brahmin and enquired about his wish. Little Ashwathama asked for milk. Lord Shiva blessed him and said that milk would be made available here. Ashwathama found milk falling on the Shivalinga, drop by drop. Ashwathama had prayed to the Lord by the name of Tapakeshwar and hence the place was known by the same name.« CAVE CLIMATE: »Himalayan speleothem deposits from … the Sahastradhara and Tapkeshwar areas of Dehradun … located in the high monsoonal region … have been studied« (TEWARI, V 2012: 81 abstract only).
NOTE 1: »A big fair takes place here on the shivratri day« --in the lunar month of phalgun, February / March (ua.nic.in/uttaranchaltourism/districts/dehradun/De… accessed 26.12.2004). NOTE 2: Compare the orange painted –>Tapkeshwar Cave. NOTE 3: Dehra Dun (Dehra, Dehra Doon) N30°19': E78°02' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003): 700 m asl (LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 403). NOTE 4: Not only because "nadi" is a Hindi word for the English "river" but also because "river" is an English word for the Hindi "nadi", the »Tons Nadi River« (LONELY PLANET, India 2009: 463) means, literally translated, »Tons River River« and rather over-rivered. NOTE 5: Shivaratri, on occasion of the first full moon after the spring equinox in the lunar month of Phalgun (February / March), is when Shiva dances the tandava (cosmic victory dance). NOTE 6: ua.nic.in/uttaranchaltourism/districts/dehradun/De… (accessed 26.12.2004).NOTE 7: Dronacharya, actually Drona (the suffix acharya is a title and means teacher, master), was a great bow-man (archer) and, according to the Mahabharata, the instructor of the Pandava brothers and Kauravas. His favourite pupil is Arjuna. The teaching qualities of Drona are perhaps best painted with the story of Ekalavya, in the Mahabharata the chieftain of a clan, who wanted Drona to teach him the art of archery but was turned down because he was a shudra, a member of the lowest Hindu caste. Thus, Ekalavya formed an effigy of Drona in mud and practices in front of it till he become an unsurpassed master in archery. When Arjuna, whom Drona called his favorite pupil, rebukes his teacher, Drona demands as a "teaching fee" his right thump, whereupon Ekalavya loses his ability while Drona's favourite Arjuna regains the title of best archer of the world.
Cavités proche
| Distance (km) | Nom | Longueur (m) | Profondeur (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | TAPKESHWAR CAVE (Orange painted) | ||
| 3.7 | GUCHHU PANI | ||
| 11.1 | VAISHNO DEVI GUFA, Dehra Dun | ||
| 12.0 | SAHASTRA DHARA, Dehra Dun | ||
| 12.1 | SHIVA, Dehra Dun: Sahastra Dhara (Cave of) | ||
| 12.1 | Sahastradhara (Cave near) (Craven 1969) | ||
| 12.1 | SAHASTRADHARA CAVES | ||
| 13.8 | DOON VIEW CAVE | ||
| 15.6 | Camel's Back Cave (Glennie 1939) [Doon View Cave 3] |