CHENCHU (Cave of the)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Apparently several but, perhaps, one solitary but unspecified and unidentified temple cave was not only said to be sacred to Shiva but also was interpreted as a site with a day roost of edible messengers of god (SRINIVASULU, C 2005a: 6) represented by bats in the sense of mainly nocturnal mammals capable of sustained flight, with membranous wings that extend between the fingers and connecting the forelimbs to the body and the hindlimbs to the tail. Other bats (implements with a handle and a solid surface, usually of wood, used for hitting the ball in games such as baseball, cricket, and table tennis) are not nice to eat and their medical value is disputable. ETYMOLOGY: No autochthonous, indigenous or locally known name has been identified for this cave (or these caves) which has been referred to by the name of the Chenchu (note 1) or Chenchuvadu, Chenchuwad and Chenchuwar (note 2), the half-savage race of aborigines in Southern India and aborigines of the Nalla Mallas (NEWBOLD, T J 146g: 271) or forest tribe of the Telugu country (RUSSEL & HIRA LAL 1916) that ended up as sylvan denizens of the Nallamala Hills, Eastern Ghats (SRINIVASULU, C 2005a: 6). SITUATION: At an unspecified location somewhere in the Nallamala Hills, Eastern Ghats, India (SRINIVASULU, C 2005a: 6). CULTURAL HISTORY -- food source / bat hunting ground (Chiroptera): The Chencus (sylvan denizens of the Nallamala Hills, Eastern Ghats, India) occasionally consume bats for their medical value. Paradoxically, they feel agitated in killing bats in caves in the region as the caves invariably have Shiva temples associated with them and the bats are often reverred as messengers of god. Chencus believe that the wings have the medical value and do not discard it [the wings] while preparing the dish (SRINIVASULU, C 2005a: 6).46g: 271) or forest tribe of the Telugu country (RUSSEL & HIRA LAL 1916) that ended up as sylvan denizens of the Nallamala Hills, Eastern Ghats (SRINIVASULU, C 2005a: 6). SITUATION: At an unspecified location somewhere in the Nallamala Hills, Eastern Ghats, India (SRINIVASULU, C 2005a: 6). CULTURAL HISTORY -- food source / bat hunting ground (Chiroptera): The Chencus (sylvan denizens of the Nallamala Hills, Eastern Ghats, India) occasionally consume bats for their medical value. Paradoxically, they feel agitated in killing bats in caves in the region as the caves invariably have Shiva temples associated with them and the bats are often reverred as messengers of god. Chencus believe that the wings have the medical value and do not discard it [the wings] while preparing the dish (SRINIVASULU, C 2005a: 6).