HADIMBA DEVI, Manali (Cave of)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Internet webshites thought up what otherwise is not at all a -cave- enclosed (hidden, guarded) within the wooden Dhoongri Temple (note 1), Dhungri Temple (note 2) or Hadimba Temple (LONELY PLANET, India 1990: 209), a relatively ancient cave temple celebrating Hidimba … in the Dhungiri Van Vihar, a forest [sacred grove] at Manali (note 3). The sacred site is advertised as 1) The temple of the goddess Hadimba … is a sombre wooden structure in a clearing in the dense forest about 2.5 km from the tourist office (LONELY PLANET, India 1990: 209). The temple of the goddess Hadimba … is a sombre wooden structure in a clearing in the dense forest about a km from the tourist office (LONELY PLANET, India 1993: 278). 2) … temple, with a finely wrought four-tiered pagoda roof, dating back to 1553, built around a natural cave, which enshrines the footprints of the goddess Hadimba … the patron goddess of the Kulu royal family (note 4). 2) … temple [which] has some intricate wooden carvings which depcts mythological characters and motifs of animals & cosmic dancers (note 5) or 3) a temple with fine wood carvings of animals and plants … Inside the temple is the small back image of the Devi. The imprinted foot prints on a black rock are believed to be the foot prints of the goddess. The temple has intricate carvings of dancers and characters from various Hindu stories. Horns of bulls and other animals decorate the walls (note 1). 4) the Dhungri Temple (Hadimba Temple map p291) is a four-storey wooden building in the middle of a lovely forested park, known as the Dhungri Van Vihar … (LONELY PLANET, India 1997: 301-302; 2005: 293; LONELY PLANET, North India 2001: 341-342). CULTURAL HISTORY - religious folklore 1 (note 1): Bhima of the Mahabharata fame fell in love with Hidimba, the sister of the demon Tandi. Bhima killed Tandi and married Hidimba, whose spirituality, coupled with her marriage to Bhima led to her being worshipped as a goddess. Today she is seen as an incarnation of Kai. FOLKLORE 2 (note 4): According to the current, modern legend became Hadimba, a local mother goddess, a full fledged member of the Hindu pantheon when Bhima, the strong He-man of the five Pandava brothers in Mahabharata, killed demon Hadimb and married his sister. HUMAN USE: A mela (temple fair), a major sales event, is held here every year in May and in fine weather the place is a popular picnic spot among the tourists.i. FOLKLORE 2 (note 4): According to the current, modern legend became Hadimba, a local mother goddess, a full fledged member of the Hindu pantheon when Bhima, the strong He-man of the five Pandava brothers in Mahabharata, killed demon Hadimb and married his sister. HUMAN USE: A mela (temple fair), a major sales event, is held here every year in May and in fine weather the place is a popular picnic spot among the tourists.