Mahadev Gupha

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

It is when we come to DUCLUZAUX (1993d: 35) that we are told that he had been told by many people about a reputedly -more than 100 m long cave- which either -- the context is unclear -- has been said (by many people) or is said (by Ducluzaux) to lie on the other side of an unidentified -the mountain- and at an unspecified location somewhere in the vicinity of Nainital. Little doubt remains that it is a pleasure to learn about this rumour (note 1). The remarkable bit follows when Messieur Ducluzaux concludes from having had no time to track this item, that it must needs be without any doubt the same as as the cave of the Gufa Mahadev (temple) which lies a kilometre from ETYMOLOGY: -Mahadev Gufa- is the name of any cave housing an image or a representation of -Mahadev- (Great God) aka Shiva. -Gufa Mahadev- (Cave Shiva) is the name of a specific occurrence of Shiva, and -Gufa Mahadev Mandir- is the temple dedicated to the Cave Shiva. SITUATION: DUCLUZAUX (1993d: 35) locates Gufa Mahadev temple) (the temple known as Gufa Mahadev) not only on an unspecified -other side- of an unidentified -the mountain- (note 2) but also at an unspecified distance of 1 km either in a direct line or along a winding route from an unspecified starting point somewhere at Nainital / Naini Tal (N29°23': E079°27': 1940 m asl) on a way in an unidentified direction towards Birbhati (note 3).A quick and easy Internet research (accessed 2011.07.26) resulted in far too many tourism providers advertising excursions which include a visit of -Gufa Mahadev- (note 4) that often is said not only to lie at some distance below a road (note 5) but also close to a likewise visitable Sepoydhara spring. Only a few websites point out that the Gufa Mahadev Mandir is near to the -Tara Lockup- or Nainital District Jail but this is probably accessible only in cases (note 6). Several Internet websites provided (accessed 2011.07.26) taxonomical descriptions of botanical species collected from the Sepoydhara strem at an altitude of 1900 m asl. IDENTITY: The so-called Gufa Mahadev (temple) (DUCLUZAUX 1993d: 35) with it's Mahadev Gufa (Shiva Cave), seems to be the same as the –>Baba Cave (Scherzer 1991.08.18 Mss) and possibly also contributes one aspect to the apparently mixed up –>Waba Cave at Sunerakot which R. D. Leakey (1946.08.20 letter to E. A. Glennie) had heard of.temple) (the temple known as Gufa Mahadev) not only on an unspecified -other side- of an unidentified -the mountain- (note 2) but also at an unspecified distance of 1 km either in a direct line or along a winding route from an unspecified starting point somewhere at Nainital / Naini Tal (N29°23': E079°27': 1940 m asl) on a way in an unidentified direction towards Birbhati (note 3).A quick and easy Internet research (accessed 2011.07.26) resulted in far too many tourism providers advertising excursions which include a visit of -Gufa Mahadev- (note 4) that often is said not only to lie at some distance below a road (note 5) but also close to a likewise visitable Sepoydhara spring. Only a few websites point out that the Gufa Mahadev Mandir is near to the -Tara Lockup- or Nainital District Jail but this is probably accessible only in cases (note 6). Several Internet websites provided (accessed 2011.07.26) taxonomical descriptions of botanical species collected from the Sepoydhara stretemple) (the temple known as Gufa Mahadev) not only on an unspecified -other side- of an unidentified -the mountain- (note 2) but also at an unspecified distance of 1 km either in a direct line or along a winding route from an unspecified starting point somewhere at Nainital / Naini Tal (N29°23': E079°27': 1940 m asl) on a way in an unidentified direction towards Birbhati (note 3).A quick and easy Internet research (accessed 2011.07.26) resulted in far too many tourism providers advertising excursions which include a visit of -Gufa Mahadev- (note 4) that often is said not only to lie at some distance below a road (note 5) but also close to a likewise visitable Sepoydhara spring. Only a few websites point out that the Gufa Mahadev Mandir is near to the -Tara Lockup- or Nainital District Jail but this is probably accessible only in cases (note 6). Several Internet websites provided (accessed 2011.07.26) taxonomical descriptions of botanical species collected from the Sepoydhara strem at an altitude of 1900 m asl. IDENTITY: The so-called Gufa Mahadev (temple) (DUCLUZAUX 1993d: 35) with it's Mahadev Gufa (Shiva Cave), seems to be the same as the –>Baba Cave (Scherzer 1991.08.18 Mss) and possibly also contributes one aspect to the apparently mixed up –>Waba Cave at Sunerakot which R. D. Leakey (1946.08.20 letter to E. A. Glennie) had heard of.