BHUBANESHWAR, Nilochal (Patal)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 23/03/2016

The »Patal Bhubaneshwar Mandir« (Sanskrit, Hindi for: Temple of the Subterranean Emperor) is a Hindu 'gupha' (literally 'cave' but more often the innermost sanctuary) but no cave, situated in the west of Gauhati (Guwahati 26°11'N: 91°44'E), on the very top of Nilochal hill (according to a sign-board 293 m asl), and near to large, closed circular water-tank erected some 400 m east of the –>Kamakhya temple but some 30 m or 40 m higher up. The focus of the sacred spot consists of a rectangular slab of rock advertised as the yoni (vulva) of the goddess is covered with vermilion powder and flowers in varying degrees of decomposition »in deference to her modesty« (LALOO, M 1999: 25). The circa 0.4 m by 0.7 m large slab is put down in the centre of a raised floor in a dark octagonal building without windows that is reached by a windowless corridor from an cave entrance hall without windows. NOT SEEN: Bhattacharyya, N.: History of the Sakta (Shakta) religion.- Page 142. CULTURAL HISTORY: »In the Kamakhya temple at Kamagiri [another name for Nilochal Hill], the central image of the goddess is a yoni carved in stone and smeared with red paste symbolising blood (N. Bhattacharyya, History of the Sakta religion: 142). Rituals are done at the temple each month to signify the Devi's menstruation« (KINSLEY D 1986 / 1987: 187). 1996: »The temple of Bhubaneshvari is situated at a distance of one quarters mile [400 m?] from the temple of Kamakhya. When pilgrims arrive there, they really forget everything of their earthly lives. The natural scenery of the place is so beautiful, that it charms and spell bounds men and discourages them to go back to their home« (SARMA, S K 1996: 30). 1999: »Crowning Nilachal Hill [–>Kamakhya Cave, Nilochal] is another, smaller Shakti temple dedicated to one of the nine aspects of the Goddess. Here the deity is represented by a red daubed slab of rock under a canopy in the dark, inner sunken chamber. The locals believed that the rock represent[s] the abdomen [more likely: the womb] of the Goddess. It is kept in the dark in deference to her modesty« (LALOO, M 1999: 25). 2002: »Other temples on the Neelachala hill include those of Tara, Bhairavi, Bhuvaneswari and Ghantakarna« (indiantemples.com/Assam/kamakhya.html accessed 2002.06.07).