BHAMAJO CAVE
33.783300,75.216700
Description
A flight of steps cut into the living rock ascents an estimated 25 m or 30 m to the modified natural cave entrance, which has been shaped into doorway leading to a partly modified natural sacred cave, which houses a structural temple: »This little temple, which is only 10 feet square, and not quite 16 feet high, is the most perfect of all the existing buildings of Kashmír« (CUNNINGHAM, A 1848: 251). ETYMOLOGY: »The cave and temple are both known by the name of Bhaumajo, which in the Kashmirian Tákra character, is written ##### Bhaumajova. But I cannot help suspecting that it is only the Sanskrit ####### Bhauma-jyotis, the "Planet Mars." This derivation however, the Kashmírian Bráhmans would not allow, though they admitted that Bhauma was the name of a Rishi. Now as Vrihaspati, or the planet Jupiter, is also the name of a Rishi, Bhauma may certainly be considered as the regent of the planet Mars, if not as the actual star itself« (CUNNINGHAM, A 1848: 251). The temple cave has been referred to as 1835 Kleinste Höhle bei Buasan HÜGEL, Carl (1840-1848, 1: 281, 283) or smallest cave near »Buasan« (Bhamajo) Kleinste Höhle bei Mattan HÜGEL, Carl (1840-1848, 1: 282, 283) or smallest cave near »Mattan« (Martand) 1848 Cave Temple of Bhaumajo in the sense of »temple erected in the interior of the cave of Bhaumajo« (CUNNINGHAM 1848: 251, plate X) Bhaumajova CUNNINGHAM, A (1848: 251) great cave CUNNINGHAM, A (1848: 251) large cave »in which the temple stands« (CUNNINGHAM, A 1848: 251) cave of Bhaumajo CUNNINGHAM, A (1848: 252) larger cave of Bhaumajo CUNNINGHAM, A (1848: 252) 1880 second cave above Bawan LYDEKKER (1883: 31) 1970 Bhamajo Temple Cave WALTHAM, A C (1971b: 24). SITUATION: In the eastern Vale of Kashmir, the temple cave near the village of Bhamajo (N33°47': E075°13') lies about 1.5 km upstream from the sacred karst spring –>Matar Nag at the temple of Martand (N33°45': E075°13') and not only on the left bank of Liddar valley and a few hundred metres north of the cave of –>Bhima Devi but also in the same cliff face and at an estimated height of >20 m »upwards of 60 feet above the level of the river« (CUNNINGHAM 1848: 251) 25 or 30 m »80 bis 100 Fuss über der Ebene« (HÜGEL, Carl 1840-1848, 1: 283) nearly 30 m »nearly 100 feet« (LYDEKKER 1883: 31)above the valley floor. SITUATION 1835.1: HÜGEL, Carl (1840-1848, 1: 281): Among the caves near Buasan (Bhamajo), which lie in the marble hills which are separated from that of Islamabad by an earth hill which, however, also links and partly covers them (note 1). SITUATION 1835.2: HÜGEL, Carl (1840-1848, 1: 283): The smallest cave near »Mattan« (Martand N33°45': E075°13') lies at the entrance to a wide valley and on a spur of the heights that limit this corner of the Islamabad hills in this direction. A not very comfortable flight of steps cut into the rock ascends 25 or 30 m from the plains to the cave entrance shaped by a stone into a doorway (note 2). SITUATION 1848: The cave called after the hamlet of »Bhaumajo« (sic!) is in a »limestone cliff at a short distance from the holy spring [i.e. –>Bawan Nag] and village of Bhavana or Bhawan and about 4 miles [6.5 km] to the N. E. of Islámábád. At this point the hill projects into the plain and has been naturally scarped by the action of the river Lambodari or Lidar [Liddar], of which a considerable branch still washes the base of the cliff immediately beneath the great cave. … The large cave in which the temple stands, is situated considerable higher than the others, it being upwards of 60 feet above the level of the river« (CUNNINGHAM, A 1848: 251). CAVE DESCRIPTION: The cave entrance to an originally natural rift cave of phreatic origin in limestone cliff has been artificially enlarged and carved into an architectural doorway leading to a single chamber (7.6 m in width, 16.75 m in length, and 3 m to 6.1 m in height) where, according to LYDEKKER (1883: 31), »a thick coating of stalagmite forms the floor« (flowstone speleothem). SPELEOMETRY in metres: width height length 3.7 3.7 6 HÜGEL, Carl (1840-1848, 1: 283) 7.6 3 to 6 16.75 CUNNINGHAM (1848: 252). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1835.1: HÜGEL, Carl (1840-1848, 1: 283): Having passed the cave entrance shaped by a stone into a doorway, one enters a cave chamber that may be 3.65 m wide and high, and 6 m long. On the far side ascend three steps to the entrance to a small temple excavated from the rock and closed with a wooden door but empty, containing neither an idol nor traces indicating that there had been one formerly (note 3). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1835.2: Not seen: HUGEL, Charles (1845: 6)CAVE DESCRIPTION 1835.3: A much injured pathway near »Bowun« (Bawan) leads to »a small antechamber, from which a few steps lead into another excavation behind it; but I was deterred from going beyond the entrance, by the stench arising from the innumerable bats that I disturbed, which was rendered absolutely insupportable by the great heat of the weather … the excavation is a dark and dismal-looking place …« (VIGNE, G T 1842, 2: 4). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1848: »The entrance to the cave of Bhaumajo has a structural doorway covered by two pediments; one within each other, and each having a trefoiled tympanum. The smaller trefoil rests upon the architrave of the pilasters, which, as in the temple itself, is partially retired in the middle; but the outer trefoil is supported on independent pilasters; and the architrave, which would have inferred with the inner pediment, is altogether omitted [note 4]. This entrance was formerly gained by a flight of steps, of which some of the stones still remain, but not in position, and I obtained access at first with some difficulty« (CUNNINGHAM, A 1848: 253-254). »In plate X I have given … plans of the caves of Bhaumajo and of Bhimá-Devi. … In each of these there is a shapeless waterworn stone [lingam], which is considered holy by the Hindus. The larger cave of Bhaumajo is 55 feet [16.75 m] long, 25 feet [7.6 m] broad and from 10 to 20 feet [3.05 to 6.1 m] in height [note 5]. There are numerous dressed stones in the interior of the cave, and there are also two low stone walls flankng a narrow pathway, which leads to the steps of the temple …« (CUNNINGHAM 1848: 252, cave plan 1 inch = 20 feet on plate X). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1883: In search of Pleistocene deposits LYDEKKER (1883: 31) mentions »caverns about a mile above Bawan« in the valley of the Liddar river, where »the entrance to the second [the "first" is the cave of –>Bhima Devi] is nearly 100 feet [30 m] above the ground, and the cavern itself is about 48 feet [14.64 m] in length. A thick coating of stalagmite forms the floor of these caverns and it is to be hoped that this may some day be penetrated; since, however, the caverns are in possession of Fakírs it will be difficult to obtain the necessary permission.« CAVE DESCRIPTION 1899: »Close to the present Ziarat of Bamadin Sahib is a small cave in the cliff containing a well-preserved little temple which is still used for Hindu worship« (STEIN 1899b edited 1977: 176). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1895: Discussing archaeological remains at Bhumju or Bumzu or Bhaumajo, LAWRENCE (1895: 169, edited 1967, 1981, 1996, 2002, 2005; vitasta.org/1999, accessed 01.09.2004) gives only a few remarks of speleological interest (the cave shrine is dedicated to Kaladeva; the cave entrance, carved into an architectural doorway, is gloomy 14.5 m long passage) but a detailed description of the temple structure erected inside the natural cave: »It is a simple cella, 10 feet square [3 by 3 m], exterior dimensions, raised on a badly moulded plinth, and approached by a short flight of steps. The square doorway is flanked by two round-headed niches despoiled of their statues, and is surmounted by a high, triangular pediment, reaching to the apex of the roof, with a trefoiled tympanum. There is no record nor tradition as to the time of erection; but from absence of all ornamentation, ad the simple character of the roof, which appears to be rudimentary copy in stone of the the ordinary sloping timber roof of the country, it may with great probability be inferred that this is the earliest perfect specimen of a Kashmiri temple, and dates from the first or second century of the Christian era. Close by is another cave [Cave of –>Bhima Devi]… and about half a mile further up the valley… [is] –>Baba Ramdin Rishi Goffar and the tomb of Ruku Din Rishi [Dargah ka –>Ruk-u- Din].« CAVE DESCRIPTION 1933: NOT SEEN KAK (1933, 1971). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1993: »Drei Minuten zu Fuß weiter [von –>Bhima Devi] ist im gleichen Berg eine zweite Höhle, 30 m über dem Flußniveau, mit einem aus dem Fels geschlagenen Portikus mit Kleeblattbogen. Der 16 m lange Innenraum oval mit zwei Terrassen, auf der oberen ein einfacher Steintempel« (STRASSER, R 1993: 347). CAVE CLIMATE: Alexander CUNNINGHAM (1848: 252) mentions »glistening walls« (undated in the sense of neither day nor month or year specified by a number) and »I cannot help suspecting« that »glistening walls« may indicate a moisture laden air or a relatively humid cave atmosphere. CAVE LIFE: Godfrey Thomas Vigne draws the attention of bat watchers (Chiroptera) to having noticed -- perhaps in summer 1835 -- a certain »stench arising from the innumerable bats that I disturbed, which was rendered absolutely insupportable by the great heat of the weather« (VIGNE 1842, 2: 4). Alexander Cunningham draws the attention of gentlemen with a taste for cave fauna to what possibly are Kashmiri guano dwellers: »Before I visited it I had all the bats turned out, and their dung removed: but still the task of measurement was rendered extremely unpleasant by a villaneous smell, and still more by the myriads of bugs [sic! qua: cave fauna] which were swarming over the glistening walls of the temple« (CUNNINGHAM, A 1848: 252).
NOTE 1: »Bei Buasan [Bhamajo N33°47': E075°13'], das an dem Marmorgebirge liegt, das von jenem bei Islamabad durch einen Erdhügel getrennt ist, der dennoch beide verbindet und zum Theil bedeckt« (HÜGEL, Carl 1840-1848, 1: 281). NOTE 2: Die »kleinste Höhle bei Mattan … liegt am Eingang eines weiten Thales, gerade an dem vorspringenden, die Anhöhen von Islamabad nach dieser Richtung beendenden Winkel des Gebirges. Eine in den Felsen gehauene, nicht sehr bequeme Treppe führt zu dem 80 bis 100 Fuss über der Ebene befindlichen, durch einen Stein gebildeten Eingangs-Thore« (HÜGEL, Carl 1840-1848, 1: 283). NOTE 3: »Perhaps it was this necessity, of either breaking or omitting the architrave of the outer pediment that eventually led to the same treatment of the other« (CUNNINGHAM, A 1848: 254). NOTE 4: »Der Eintretende kommt nun in einen Raum, welcher 20 Fuss lang, 12 Fuss breit und eben so hoch seyn mag. Im Hintergrunde ist ein kleiner Tempel in den Fels gehauen, zu dessen Eingang drei Stufen empor führen; die hölzerne Türe war verschlossen; kein Götzenbild von Aussen zu sehen. Neugierig, wem der Tempel geweiht sein könne, versuchte ich die Thüre zu öffnen, allein vergebens. Einem meiner Gurkha gelang es besser wie mir, und zu meinem grossen Erstaunen war auch im Innern weder ein Götzenbild noch irgend ein Zeichen zu finden, dass eines darin vorhanden gewesen sei« (HÜGEL, Carl 1840-1848, 1: 283). NOTE 5: »Baron Hugel [HÜGEL, Carl or, anglicée, »HUGEL, Charles« 1845: 36] erroneously states that this cave is "about 20 feet long and 12 feet high and broad," but these dimensions must certainly have been recorded from memory, for mine are given from measurements made by myself« (CUNNINGHAM, A 1848: 252). NOTE 1: »Our expeditionary force consisted … [of] the brother officer … F. … and myself« (KNIGHT, W H 1863 "Diary" Introduction). NOTE 2: »… the native name of Mutton is a corruption of Martund, by which name the temple is also designated« (KNIGHT, W H 1863 "Diary" note 10). NOTE 3: Cockney (early 17th century, contemptuous) »a town dweller regarded as affected or puny«, original sense probably a small or ill-shaped egg, (Oxford Dictionary 2005) but »I use the word "Cockney" to represent a person who knows but little of travelling, de facto, or of its aims« (HERVEY 1853, 2: 111 note).
Documents
Bibliography 23/03/2016- Cunningham, Alexander 1848; Doughty, Marion 1902; Fotedar, Sunil 2002; Hügel, Carl [Hugel, Charles] 1840-1848, 1845; Kak, Ram Chandra 1933, 1971; Kalhana 1140 edited 1835, 1892, 1935; Kak, Ram Chandra 1933, 1971; Knight, William Henry 1863; Lawrence, Walter Roper 1895, 1967, 1981, 1996, 2002, 2005; Lydekker, Richard 1883; Redslob, F 1891; Stein, Marc Aurel 1892, 1894, 1899b edited 1977, 1900, 1960, 1988-1990; Strasser, Robert 1993; Vigne, Godfrey Thomas 1842; Waltham, Tony [Anthony C] 1971b.
Histoire
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1835 (November?): The stench of bats deterred VIGNE, G T (1842: 3-4) from entering the cave. 1835.11.25: Carl [Freiherr von] HÜGEL (1840, 1: 283-284) explored the cave and found no statue nor painting. 1848: Alexander CUNNINGHAM (1848) published a detailed description and cave plan (scale 1 inch: 20 feet / 1: 240). 1851.06.11, Wednesday: Mrs. HERVEY (1853, 2: 199) claims to have »visited the famous Caves of Mutthun yesterday evening« but, since she mentions neither bats nor the stench of bats, is suspected of having been too much of a »cockney traveller« (note 3) to consider entering. »Mutthun, or Mattan … 11th June, 1851. Wednesday. -- I visited the famous Caves of Mutthun yesterday evening, and as the evening was cool and pleasant, I proceeded to Korau Pandau, a mile from this village. The caves are three in number; they are found in the rocks a little above the road, about a couple of hundred yards from the principle portion of this town. The third cave, called Rishi Boomerike, regularly built outside and inside into a temple, is two hundred yards still further on, close to the shores of the Lidur river, a large body of water flowing from the Sesh Nâg, (a lake 13,000 feet in elevation), on the road to Amur-Nâth« (HERVEY 1853, 2: 197). »These caverns are called Ghofah [note], and the Brahmins told me that the Déo Cushup made them, and that spirits inhabit them« (HERVEY 1853, 2: 199).1860.07.13: Captain William Henry KNIGHT (1863 Diary: 1860 July 13) and his anonymous co-soldier »F« (note 1) went to »Mutton« (note 2) and »thought it not worth while proceeding to Bamazoo, where we were told there were caves; but, treating the fishes to a small coin's worth of Indian maize, we retraced our steps.« 1889.09.25: The Christian missionary F. REDSLOB (1891: 308) admired the »kunstreich aus dem Felsen gehauene Portal« or highly artistic portal hewn out of the rock.
Cavités proche
| Distance (km) | Nom | Longueur (m) | Profondeur (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | SER (Höhle bei) | ||
| 1.8 | BHIMA DEVI (Cave of) | ||
| 1.8 | RUK-u- DIN RISHI (Dargah ka) | ||
| 1.8 | SHIVA, Bhamajo (Cave of) | ||
| 2.8 | BAWAN SPRINGS | ||
| 2.8 | KAMALA NAG | ||
| 3.6 | SUCCURGAOM | ||
| 3.7 | SURYA GOFFAR, Martand | ||
| 7.9 | GUFKRAL PITS |