NILKANTHA CAVE
25.000000,80.483300
Description
A man-made 'cave temple' (rock-cut chamber used for religious purposes) dedicated to Devi (note 1) as Durga (note 2) or Kali (note 3) but also to Shiva (note 4). Excavated from the rock of Kalinjar Fort (N24°59'50”: E080°28'50” WGS84; obsolete: Kallingur). SITUATION: See the "caves" at –>Kalinjar Fort. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1821: »The most numerous of the various interesting remains of the superstition which was formerly cultivated on this high place, consecrated to the worship of Siva [Shiva] or Medeba [Mahadeva], are discovered on the western face of the hill, at which part, about a quarter down the mountain, we find, hewn out of the strata of solid rock, the cavern temple, in which is contained a monstrous lingar [lingam, note 5], named by the natives Neela Kantha, or 'blue throat', an epithet of Siva, Mahadeva [Madadeo], Iswara [Ishwara] or Kal [Kali]. The entrance opening to the flight of steps descending to this side of Kallingur, consists of a ruined gateway, much dilapidated, about 15 or 20 feet in height, and retaining evident traces of Hindu workmanship, of which it is almost entirely constructed. This passage leads to an irregular broken stair, at whose extremity is placed a second gateway, less splendid than the former, which immediately conducts to another steep flight of steps, at least 10 feet in height, bounded on the left hand of the spectator by a series of sculptured rocks and cavern temples, and on the right by the rampart and parapets, which are adorned by many fine fragments of ancient images …« (TYTLER 1821: 20). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1848: Comparatively extensive details on sculptures and inscriptions to be imported (MAISEY 1848: 188-196, notes 61-96, plates 15-18). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1871: NOT SEEN: JOURNAL OF THE ASIATIC SOCIETY OF BENGAL (1871, 17: 313 ff); CAVE DESCRIPTION 1891: NOT SEEN: CUNNINGHAM (Archaeological Survey Reports, vol. 21: 20ff). CULTURAL HISTORY: The sacred site was possibly once used for animal and human blood sacrifice. The curious shaped lingam (or lingam-shaped head with a mouth apparently ready for a blowing job) looks unusual (monstrous?) and gave rise to gross Westerners' speculations on abhorring Hindu rites associated with "bloodthirsty" Kali worship. This story set in the subterranean scenery was --and probably still is-- successfully sold to Western scandal lovers ready to accept any tale touching sex and crime (e.g. the Steven SPIELBERG (1984) movie: Indiana Jones and the temple of Doom.) See also –>Kali Cave. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1908: Nilkantha 'Cave' (not mentioned by name) can be expected to be one among »many caves, some of which contain inscriptions« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 14: 310).
NOTE 1: Devi, the [Great] Goddess, the most general name for feminine divinity; often used to refer to the consort / wife of Shiva (Sati, Parvati) but applied to other mother goddesses as well; or specifically, to THE goddess, ultimate reality conceived as feminine (DEVI: Goddesses of India 1996, 1998: 318). NOTE 2: Durga, literally 'inaccessible', is »a form of Shiva's wife, Devi, a beautiful, fierce women riding a tiger; a major goddess of the Shakti sect« (LONELY PLANET, India 2005 glossary: 1107). Durga is the terrible, frightening aspect of the mother goddess Kali (DEVI MAHATMYA, circa 550, chapter 11; KINSLEY 1986 edited 1987: 99, 107; SOMADEVA circa 1100; VAKPATIRAJA, ca. 700: Gaudavaho, Verses 285-337), the untamed and unmarried version of Devi, (The) Goddess, the supreme goddess manifested (VINDHYA MAHATMYA, s.a., circa 1810?; HUMES 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996 edited 1998). NOTE 3: Kali NOTE 4: Shiva NOTE 6: (HDG 2000.12.23): The lingam --if it is one at all-- is truly monstrous. It does not work as phallic metaphor --with the possible exception of ruthless psychologism considering even a tea cup as a male symbol-- because it may stand. The Nilkantha lingam is shaped like a club and stands approximately 1.5 m high on a foot reminiscent of a neck, thinner in circumference than the main mass. The upper two thirds bulge and culminate in a rounded top. The surface of the lower part is crenelated and resembles –if it would exist– a stretched, linear version of a soft oak's bark. The upper part is smooth without any structure but the eye is caught by a hole facing the visitor –a feature I never came across in the many hundreds of linga I saw anywhere in India. This hole, about halfway up and at a height where the mouth of a too elongated head would be, is surrounded by a bulging ring remembering of pouting lips, gaping like stupid. This basic statue stands in mirky twilight. It is engulfed by enclosed acoustics and and impressive smell of lacking cleanliness. It is vexing. There are hardly any features and therefore a lot to imagine. From the very beginning it does not fit into this world. If hanging from the ceiling it clearly would be a soft wet sack but standing erect it contradicts the laws of gravitation. It is puzzling. It could be a head but it is not. It rests on a neck but there's no chin. There are no eyes but an open mouth, pouting like an idiot's with lowered jaws. If this has power then without the slightest trace of mercy because there is simply no sense of compassion. The hapless victim can't even cast a pledging look, there are no eyes to see. The chances to move this judge are plainly zero.
Cavités proche
| Distance (km) | Nom | Longueur (m) | Profondeur (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | FAKIR's CAVE, Kalinjar | ||
| 0.0 | HANUMAN GATE CAVE, Kalinjar | ||
| 0.0 | MRIG DHARA | ||
| 0.0 | PANI KE AMAN | ||
| 0.0 | PATALA GANGA, Kalinjar | ||
| 0.5 | SITAKUND, Kalinjar | ||
| 0.5 | SITA SEJ GUFA | ||
| 23.5 | KALYANPUR - BILADI SHELTER | ||
| 26.5 | LAL PUTARIA: ITWA SHELTERS |