BHYRAM, Bhyramghattee (Cave of)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A natural sacred rockshelter, which has been modified into a Hindu temple cave and contains a black stone partly painted red representing Bhairo or Bhyram (note 1), is exploited as a religious show cave dedicated to Bhairo Lál, who is esteemed to be the Janitor of Jumnotri and Gangotri (HODGSON 1822: 146), and which lies at a very singular and terrible place (FRASER 1820a: 464; 1820b plate 19). The scenery is wild; no hills are visible beyond those which immediately bound the river, save a snowy ridge called Mallorra, to the north-west. The peaks of the nearest are of rough and rugged rocks, with now and then a patch of snow in their crevices. Their bases, for about a hundred feet from the water, are formed of overhanging crags, worn into almost every shape by the friction of the river; magnificent pine-trees grow on the brows of the hills, and shoot like tall masts from the clefts of the projecting cliffs (SKINNER 1833, 2: 43). SITUATION: On the road to Gungoutri (Gangotri N30°59':E078°56') and a little above the river, in a cluster of pines (SKINNER 1833, 2: 47) and just at the end of the bridge (FRASER 1820: 464) at Bhairoghati (note 2), a place at the auspicious confluence or sangam (note 3), where the rivers Jahnavi or Jhannevie (note 4) and Bhagirathi or Bhagiruttee (note 5) meet. Here, the religious establishment is favourably set up on the much frequented pilgrimage route to Gangotri, the spiritual source of the Ganges River, which rises geographically only 18 km further upstream from –>Gaumukh, the glacier cave (in ice). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1820: … an overhanging rock, under which worship is performed to Bhyram, and a black stone partly painted red is the image of the god (FRASER 1820: 464). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1828: Bhairo … a temple dedicated to his service, at which all devout passengers make their prostations and circumambulations. Immediately above the river, from the face of a rock, trickles a little stream of a yellow colour, impregnated perhaps withiron; it flows for the distance of a few yards only, dying the ground and stones about it (SKINNER 1833, 2: 47-48). CULTURAL HISTORY: On 19th July 1815 … prayers and worship alone were not performed, but every one was obliged to bathe and eat bread baked by the Brahmins, as preparatory to the great and effectual ablutions at the holier Gungotree. This occupied a considerable time, as the party was numerous; in the meantime I took a very imperfect sketch of the scene, after which I bathed myself at the proper place (which is the junction of the two streams), while the Brahmin prayed over me. Among the ceremonies performed, he made me hold a tuft of grass while he prayed, which at the conclusion he directed me to throw into the eddy occasioned by the meeting of the two waters [note 6] (FRASER 1820: 464). On 9th June 1828, the mineral deposit occuring in the little stream of a yellow colour … is considered miraculous, and every pilgrim takes a small quantity of the earth away, deeming hiself happy in having about him two such talismans as Bhairo's clay and the water of Gungoutri (SKINNER 1833, 2: 47-48).iron; it flows for the distance of a few yards only, dying the ground and stones about it (SKINNER 1833, 2: 47-48). CULTURAL HISTORY: On 19th July 1815 … prayers and worship alone were not performed, but every one was obliged to bathe and eat bread baked by the Brahmins, as preparatory to the great and effectual ablutions at the holier Gungotree. This occupied a considerable time, as the party was numerous; in the meantime I took a very imperfect sketch of the scene, after which I bathed myself at the proper place (which is the junction of the two streams), while the Brahmin prayed over me. Among the ceremonies performed, he made me hold a tuft of grass while he prayed, which at the conclusion he directed me to throw into the eddy occasioned by the meeting of the two waters [note 6] (FRASER 1820: 464). On 9th June 1828, the mineral deposit occuring in the little stream of a yellow colour … is considered miraculous, and every pilgrim takes a small quantity of the earth away, deeming hiiron; it flows for the distance of a few yards only, dying the ground and stones about it (SKINNER 1833, 2: 47-48). CULTURAL HISTORY: On 19th July 1815 … prayers and worship alone were not performed, but every one was obliged to bathe and eat bread baked by the Brahmins, as preparatory to the great and effectual ablutions at the holier Gungotree. This occupied a considerable time, as the party was numerous; in the meantime I took a very imperfect sketch of the scene, after which I bathed myself at the proper place (which is the junction of the two streams), while the Brahmin prayed over me. Among the ceremonies performed, he made me hold a tuft of grass while he prayed, which at the conclusion he directed me to throw into the eddy occasioned by the meeting of the two waters [note 6] (FRASER 1820: 464). On 9th June 1828, the mineral deposit occuring in the little stream of a yellow colour … is considered miraculous, and every pilgrim takes a small quantity of the earth away, deeming hiiron; it flows for the distance of a few yards only, dying the ground and stones about it (SKINNER 1833, 2: 47-48). CULTURAL HISTORY: On 19th July 1815 … prayers and worship alone were not performed, but every one was obliged to bathe and eat bread baked by the Brahmins, as preparatory to the great and effectual ablutions at the holier Gungotree. This occupied a considerable time, as the party was numerous; in the meantime I took a very imperfect sketch of the scene, after which I bathed myself at the proper place (which is the junction of the two streams), while the Brahmin prayed over me. Among the ceremonies performed, he made me hold a tuft of grass while he prayed, which at the conclusion he directed me to throw into the eddy occasioned by the meeting of the two waters [note 6] (FRASER 1820: 464). On 9th June 1828, the mineral deposit occuring in the little stream of a yellow colour … is considered miraculous, and every pilgrim takes a small quantity of the earth away, deeming hiself happy in having about him two such talismans as Bhairo's clay and the water of Gungoutri (SKINNER 1833, 2: 47-48).