BIBI NANI, Hinglaj (Cave of)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A temple cave), which is sacred to the mother goddess called Bibi Nani (note 1) by Muslims and Kali, Parvati (Parbati) or Mata (note 2) and Loca Mata (note 3) by Hindus, was understood to consist of 1861 a hollow in the hill with a deep, semi-circular cleft (GOLDSMID 1861 in BRIGGS 1938 edited 1973: 107 after CROOKE in: Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics). 1908 a natural cavity with a deeper semicircular cleft (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 13: 142; GAZETTEER OF BALUCHISTAN 1908 edited 1989, 1991: 192-193). SITUATION: At Hinglaj, a pilgrimage site (ziarat) below the peak of the same name (note 4) in a verdant basin on the banks of Hingol Khaur (Hingol River). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1861: A place of sacrifice consists of a hollow in the hill, sacred to the goddess; from this place up to the temple, about 400 m, the stones under foot were smeared with blood of animals offered to her. A flight of steps lead down a deep, semi-circular cleft through which the pilgrim creep on all fours (GOLDSMD 1861 in BRIGGS 1938 edited 1973: 107 after CROOKE). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1908: A relatively low castellated mud edifice in a natural cavity. A flight of steps leads to a deeper semicircular cleft through which pilgrims creep on all fours (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 13: 142; GAZETTEER OF BALUCHISTAN 1908 edited 1989, 1991: 192-193). CULTURAL HISTORY - religious folklore & human use: The best known place of pilgrimage in Balochistan (Baluchistan) focusses on a cleft used by believers as a -dwar-, a squeeze or passage of restricted size, the penetration of which gives testimony to the penetrator's account of luck, sin, etc. (note 5). The nearby –>Chat-i Bibi Nani (Hinglaj Well) is said to erupt irregularly (an intermittend? spring) and used as a sacrifice pit. Internet webshites associate Hanglag (note 6) with the cave of –>Kalika Devi at Aror, near Sukkur, in Sind Province.A temple cave), which is sacred to the mother goddess called Bibi Nani (note 1) by Muslims and Kali, Parvati (Parbati) or Mata (note 2) and Loca Mata (note 3) by Hindus, was understood to consist of 1861 a hollow in the hill with a deep, semi-circular cleft (GOLDSMID 1861 in BRIGGS 1938 edited 1973: 107 after CROOKE in: Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics). 1908 a natural cavity with a deeper semicircular cleft (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 13: 142; GAZETTEER OF BALUCHISTAN 1908 edited 1989, 1991: 192-193). SITUATION: At Hinglaj, a pilgrimage site (ziarat) below the peak of the same name (note 4) in a verdant basin on the banks of Hingol Khaur (Hingol River). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1861: A place of sacrifice consists of a hollow in the hill, sacred to the goddess; from this place up to the temple, about 400 m, the stones under foot were smeared with blood of animals offered to her. A flight of steps lead down a deep, semi-circular cleft through which the pilgrim creep on all fours (GOLDSMA temple cave), which is sacred to the mother goddess called Bibi Nani (note 1) by Muslims and Kali, Parvati (Parbati) or Mata (note 2) and Loca Mata (note 3) by Hindus, was understood to consist of 1861 a hollow in the hill with a deep, semi-circular cleft (GOLDSMID 1861 in BRIGGS 1938 edited 1973: 107 after CROOKE in: Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics). 1908 a natural cavity with a deeper semicircular cleft (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 13: 142; GAZETTEER OF BALUCHISTAN 1908 edited 1989, 1991: 192-193). SITUATION: At Hinglaj, a pilgrimage site (ziarat) below the peak of the same name (note 4) in a verdant basin on the banks of Hingol Khaur (Hingol River). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1861: A place of sacrifice consists of a hollow in the hill, sacred to the goddess; from this place up to the temple, about 400 m, the stones under foot were smeared with blood of animals offered to her. A flight of steps lead down a deep, semi-circular cleft through which the pilgrim creep on all fours (GOLDSMD 1861 in BRIGGS 1938 edited 1973: 107 after CROOKE). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1908: A relatively low castellated mud edifice in a natural cavity. A flight of steps leads to a deeper semicircular cleft through which pilgrims creep on all fours (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 13: 142; GAZETTEER OF BALUCHISTAN 1908 edited 1989, 1991: 192-193). CULTURAL HISTORY - religious folklore & human use: The best known place of pilgrimage in Balochistan (Baluchistan) focusses on a cleft used by believers as a -dwar-, a squeeze or passage of restricted size, the penetration of which gives testimony to the penetrator's account of luck, sin, etc. (note 5). The nearby –>Chat-i Bibi Nani (Hinglaj Well) is said to erupt irregularly (an intermittend? spring) and used as a sacrifice pit. Internet webshites associate Hanglag (note 6) with the cave of –>Kalika Devi at Aror, near Sukkur, in Sind Province.