BALAK NATH (Cave of)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

The abode of Baba Balak Nath / Balaknath (balaknath.com accessed 2004.08.29), who is advertised as an incarnation of Lord Shiva (note 1), is a profitable religious show cave (note 2) of unidentified nature (note 3) and dimensions, where amazing miracles are performed (note 4). The professionally exploited pilgrimage site is designed for especially male devotees (note 5) from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh and from countries like the UK and the USA who flock the sacred place with traditional fervour and gaiety [note 6] to offer chala consisting of flag, prasad and money (BABA BALAK NATH… 2002.03.15). CAVE LEGEND: Balak, born at Girnar (N21°30': E70°30') in Kathiawar (Gujarat), was a wild rover endowed with miraculous powers, who made it to Talai (N31°26': E76°33' on AMS sheet NH43-04) in Bilaspur (town: N31°20': E76°45'), where he became a cowboy. One day by the tank, from which the place derives its name, he met a band of saints. Their -mahant- (leader), a Nth, challenged with a test not fit for ladies (note 7) but drew the shorter match. The saints, seeing a greater than their greatest, endeavoured to persuade Balak to become one of them, and, when he refused, thought, as saints usually do, to detain him by force. Balak fled and jumped into the tank followed by the Nath. Both disappeared but were seen a little later to emerge from a cave, in a hill near Chakmoh (on AMS sheet NH43-04 near N31°27': E76°32'), about five kilometers away (keyword: fabulous tunnel). The saints went to the place, but when they got there the two had once more vanished and were never seen again (keyword: exit cave). In the due course of time, the cave became sacred, and Balak and Nath came to be worshipped as one deity titled [Sidh] Balak Nath (after hindubooks.org/temples/himachal/Bilaspur accessed 29.08.2004). SITUATION: Internet websites place the sacred -cave- at distances ranging between 50 km (cca.nic.in/Students.htm accessed 2005.06.30) and 56 km (suca.net/intro.htm accessed 29.08.2004) erroneously north (balaknath.com accessed 29.08.2004) and, more likely, south (cca.nic.in/Students.htm accessed 2005.06.30) of Hamirpur (N31°31'56”: E75°55'02” WGS84, on AMS sheet NH43-03). SITUATION 1: balaknath.com (accessed 29.08.2004): Guffa (Cave) in Shahtalai [note 8, lies at an unspecified distance] north of Hoshiarpur in the foothills [Siwalik Range] of Himachal Pradesh. SITUATION 2: Deoth-Sidh, a famous pilgrim town, is 56 km from Hamirpur town and 10 km from Shah-Talai. A cave temple, dedicated to Child Saint Baba Balaknath, is located here on a spur of a hill. As the name suggests, Deoth Sidh means 'Light of Truth'. The cave temple always remains lighted. Women are forbidden to enter the cave and thus pray and make their offerings on the entrance only (sucha.net/intro.htm accessed 29.08.2004). SITUATION 3: … Baba Balak Nath Sidhpeeth is located at a distance of 50 km from the District Headquarter Hamirpur … on a hill known as ‘Deth Sidh’. Hamirpur is thickly populated bustling township having highest population density in North India (H.P.). Temple complex has the maximum spread of not less than 2 sq. Kilometers which can be easily covered in a time frame of about 4 hours (jaibabedi.com/location.htm accessed 29.08.2004). SITUATION 4: Baba Ji's pious cave shrine is nested on the mighty Dhol Giri mountain [Dhaulagiri], which is situated at Deot Sidh village [120 km from Chandigarh] in District Hamirpur in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Nearest railway station is Una which is approx. 65 km from Deot Sidh (jaibababalaknath.com/howtovisit.html accessed 29.08.2004). SITUATION 5: BABA BALAK NATH TEMPLE: A cave temple located in Deothsidth, in the Dhaulagiri Hills of Hamirpur, is a noted place of pilgrimage. People come here to seek the blessing of Baba Balak Nath whose image is located in the cave. Shahtalai, 46 km from the district headquarters of Hamirpur and accessible by road, is about 10 km from Deothsidh (jababedi.com) (himachaltourism.nic.in/releg.htm accessed 29.08.2004). SITUATION 6: The cave temple of Baba Balak Nath is… situated on the border of Bilaspur (70 km), Hamirpur (30 km) and is well connected by roads from all sides. During Navratras, there is a continuous stream of visitors to receive blessings of the Baba. Government makes arrangements for stay in tented colonies and provides water, toilets and other essential services. Additional accommodation and installation of rope way to Shah -Talai is expected to attract more tourists (jaibabedi.com) (himachaltourism.nic.in/hamir.htm#deot accessed 29.08.2004). SITUATION 7: On the Deotsidhar range of Shivalik Hills, the complex is 50 kms south of Hamirpur town and lies in proximity of Bhakra dam reservoir [note 9] (cca.nic.in/Students.htm accessed 2005.06.30).th Sidh’. Hamirpur is thickly populated bustling township having highest population density in North India (H.P.). Temple complex has the maximum spread of not less than 2 sq. Kilometers which can be easily covered in a time frame of about 4 hours (jaibabedi.com/location.htm accessed 29.08.2004). SITUATION 4: Baba Ji's pious cave shrine is nested on the mighty Dhol Giri mountain [Dhaulagiri], which is situated at Deot Sidh village [120 km from Chandigarh] in District Hamirpur in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Nearest railway station is Una which is approx. 65 km from Deot Sidh (jaibababalaknath.com/howtovisit.html accessed 29.08.2004). SITUATION 5: BABA BALAK NATH TEMPLE: A cave temple located in Deothsidth, in the Dhaulagiri Hills of Hamirpur, is a noted place of pilgrimage. People come here to seek the blessing of Baba Balak Nath whose image is located in the cave. Shahtalai, 46 km from the district headquarters of Hamirpur and accessible by road, is about 10 km from Deothsidh (jath Sidh’. Hamirpur is thickly populated bustling township having highest population density in North India (H.P.). Temple complex has the maximum spread of not less than 2 sq. Kilometers which can be easily covered in a time frame of about 4 hours (jaibabedi.com/location.htm accessed 29.08.2004). SITUATION 4: Baba Ji's pious cave shrine is nested on the mighty Dhol Giri mountain [Dhaulagiri], which is situated at Deot Sidh village [120 km from Chandigarh] in District Hamirpur in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Nearest railway station is Una which is approx. 65 km from Deot Sidh (jaibababalaknath.com/howtovisit.html accessed 29.08.2004). SITUATION 5: BABA BALAK NATH TEMPLE: A cave temple located in Deothsidth, in the Dhaulagiri Hills of Hamirpur, is a noted place of pilgrimage. People come here to seek the blessing of Baba Balak Nath whose image is located in the cave. Shahtalai, 46 km from the district headquarters of Hamirpur and accessible by road, is about 10 km from Deothsidh (jababedi.com) (himachaltourism.nic.in/releg.htm accessed 29.08.2004). SITUATION 6: The cave temple of Baba Balak Nath is… situated on the border of Bilaspur (70 km), Hamirpur (30 km) and is well connected by roads from all sides. During Navratras, there is a continuous stream of visitors to receive blessings of the Baba. Government makes arrangements for stay in tented colonies and provides water, toilets and other essential services. Additional accommodation and installation of rope way to Shah -Talai is expected to attract more tourists (jaibabedi.com) (himachaltourism.nic.in/hamir.htm#deot accessed 29.08.2004). SITUATION 7: On the Deotsidhar range of Shivalik Hills, the complex is 50 kms south of Hamirpur town and lies in proximity of Bhakra dam reservoir [note 9] (cca.nic.in/Students.htm accessed 2005.06.30).