TRILOKNATH CAVE, Kangra: Kotla
32.266700,76.050000
Description
A natural, Shivaite temple cave in limestone at the shrine and tirtha (place of pilgrimage) of Triloknath (Lord of three worlds) or Trilokpur (note 1) is sacred to a 10-armed version of Shiva, who is stoned -- sorry: manifested in stone to a degree forming secondary calcite deposits (speleothems) interpreted as venerable linga. SITUATION 1891: Triloknath (Trilokpur) lies about 3 km east (ROGERS 1891: 43) or ESE (note 2) from the small town of Kotla (note 3). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1891: »Water charged with mineral matter, dropping from the roof, has at the far end of the cave produced two large stalactites and stalagmites, which meeting midway now form two pillars [note 4]. The roof and floor of the rest of the building [sic!] are covered in with masses of stalactite and stalagmite [note 5]« (ROGERS 1891: 43 in VOGEL 1902: 40-41). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1902: »Besides … numberless swayambhu [self-arisen] linga [phallus-shaped manifestations of Shiva] there is in the centre of the cave, as chief object of worship, a linga of white marble, which is pañcavaktra [note 6]« (VOGEL 1902: 40-41). CULTURAL HISTORY: ERNDL (1993: 78, 81) narrates how she had participated in June 1983 in a curiously timed (hurried), organised group pilgrimage -- Indian style -- where the bus-load of »satsangi« (note 7) left Vaishno Devi (in Jammu) in the afternoon, stopped at the Ragunath temple to do some shopping, and »continued on through the night, stopping for dinner and a brief nap and to see the Shaivite cave at Triloknath, arriving at Chamunda Devi in the morning. There we stayed for two days, with group activities centered around evening satsangs, singing devotional songs, and feasts provided by Babaji« or priest (a Chandigarh religious leader assisted by one »Bahnji« or sister).
NOTE 1: »The name Triloknath is met to designate a village (also called Trilokpur) and tirtha« (VOGEL 1902: 40-41). PRICE (1988b: 32) confirms that there is »at Trilokpur is a natural cave with stal, dedicated to Shiva.« NOTE 2: Triloknath is indicated on the AMS sheet NI43-15 Pathankot (U502 series, 1959 edition) about 3 km ESE from Kotla. NOTE 3: Kotla N32°15': E76°02' (nima.mil/geonames, accessed 16.11.2003) is shown on the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 5 F1) on the National Highway NH20 at a spot which lies at travelling distances of 41 km north-west from the district headquarters Kangra (N32°6': E76°16'), 47 km west from Pathankot (N32°17': E75°39') 21 km south-east from Nurpur (also: Narpur N32°18': E75°54'), and 31 km west from Dharamsala (32°13'N: 76°19'E). NOTE 4: Niraj Vashi (01-HP-Dhalhousie-Dharams#545.doc, accessed 2006.09.15) brightens the day with explaining how »The natural cave« at Trilokpur »has attractive pillars of limestone.«nivalink.com/hp/01-HP-Dalhousie-Dharamsala-KangraValley.doc (accessed 29.08.2004) entertains even better when repeating once more that »the natural cave« at Trilokpur »has attractive pillars of limestone.« NOTE 5: Hertha Heilmeier (1981 Mss, forwarded by Manfred Moser 1997 November) produced photographs showing sculpted walls and calcite formations. NOTE 6: pañcavaktra, with five pairs of arms, ten-armed.NOTE 7: »The group of pilgrims was extremely diverse, a mixture of young married couples, families with chidren, single men and women, and elderly people. A wide range of castes was represented, from Brahmin to Blacksmith, with Rajputs and merchant castes such as Khattri, Arora, and Baniya being most numerous. With few exceptions, all were Punjabis and about a fourth were Sikhs. Everyone lived in Chandigarh, except for a few relatives of people living in Chandigarh who had come from out of town. … The bus owner also brought his wife and sons … Many remarked that it was auspicious to go on a pilgrimage with a satsang, a group of like-minded devotees« (ERNDL 1993: 79-80).
Documents
Bibliography 22/06/2016- Erndl, Kathleen M 1993; Price, Liz [Elizabeth]1988b; Rodgers, C D 1891; Vogel, Jean-Philippe 1902.
Cavités proche
| Distance (km) | Nom | Longueur (m) | Profondeur (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24.0 | MASRUR CAVES | ||
| 27.6 | KANGRA NATURAL BRIDGE | ||
| 27.6 | SAHASTRA DHARA, Kangra | ||
| 27.6 | SAHASTRA DHARA, Bhawan | ||
| 27.6 | SHAHASTRADHARA, Kangra | ||
| 29.2 | DOONGE CAVES | ||
| 33.1 | LAHESH CAVE | ||
| 34.0 | BASOLI / BASHOLI / BASOHLI / BATHTSAL (Caves at) | ||
| 34.0 | BATHTSAL CAVE, Jammu |