SHIVA, Amboli (Cave of)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A 1.2 m large cave entrance is said to give access to an allegedly 300 m long red laterite cave (note 1). SITUATION: According to sahyaadri.com (accessed 2009.10.07), the cave lies at a travelling distance of 5.5 km without orientation from Amboli (note 2), the hill station, and besides Shivlinga of an unspecified, relatively small temple (no name mentioned), which seems to stand above the banks (or near the source) of the Hiranykeshi (note 3). The hill station Amboli (note 4) lies about 50 km in a direct line north-west of Goa and at travelling distances of 39 km ENE from Vengurla (15°52'N: 73°38'E) on the Konkan Railway, 64 km WNW from Belgaum (15°52'N: 74°30'E), the nearest airport, and 97 km (via Mapuca and Vengurla) from Panaji (Panjim 15°29': 73°50'E) in Goa, the nearest international airport.CAVE DESCRIPTION: A small temple and a red laterite cave that is just 4 feet in diameter at the origin. On January 26, 1981, a team of people entered the cave and it took them sx hours to reach its inner depths. Here they found a hall large enough for 50 people [note 5] that led into another vihara that could hold as many as a hundred people, which has an underground spring at its centre. Cave is estimated to be 300 m long. Lot of obstructions such as black out, biting fish, mud, dangerous Jalwa's [leeches] which suck human blood and confined air come in the way when one enters inside through its narrow winding path. There are seven ponds [oceans?] inside. Surprisingly sunlight appears in the last pond, secret of light's source is not discovered yet. A huge throne inside is also a misty (sahyaadri.com 2009.10.07). CAVE POTENTIAL: Adventure caving: Exploring this cave besides Shivlinga is a challenge for adventure sport lovers (sahyaadri.com 2009.10.07). CULTURAL HISTORY - human use: The internet website sahyaadri.com (accessed 2009.10.07) is too misty or mystic to decide if it is the hill station Amboli, the small temple without name or the red laterite ave itself, which is scenic place of worship dedicated to Lord Shiva where pilgrims gather in large numbers during Mahashivratri. CAVE LIFE: Unless the dangerous Jalwa's which suck human blood and confined air can be interpreted as a case of black out (sahyaadri.com accessed 2009.10.07), they may indicate the existence of leeches (Hirudinea) in one world or another.ave itself, which is scenic place of worship dedicated to Lord Shiva where pilgrims gather in large numbers during Mahashivratri. CAVE LIFE: Unless the dangerous Jalwa's which suck human blood and confined air can be interpreted as a case of black out (sahyaadri.com accessed 2009.10.07), they may indicate the existence of leeches (Hirudinea) in one world or another.