DURGA SHELTER, Pachmarhi - Barkachhar »Wat Kaschar«

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A rock shelter (20 m wide, up to 4 or 7 m high and 6 to 10 m -long-) in sandstone (note 1) contains cave paintings (KUSCH 2003: 115-117 illustration 14 and 16) at a situation immediately below (KUSCH 2003: 105) a 40 m high -rocky needle-, a prominent landmark, on the way to –>Sateri Cave. ARCHAEOLOGY - pottery: The fragment of a round pot's rim (14 cm in diameter) is described by KUSCH (2003: 115, 116 illustration 15). CULTURAL HISTORY - rock art: KUSCH (2003: 115-117, illustrations 14, 16) describes from the ceiling in the central part of the rock shelter at least four groups of cave paintings in white highlighted with some -red- (ochre?). The paintings depict two warriors and two men (one in a poor state of preservation) with weapons, swords and shields dated to historical times (note 2). The fifth and largest person depicted is a -woman- (note 3) identified with Durga (note 4). This figure is depicted with two pairs of arms. The inner arms hold unidentified items and the outer ars a dagger (on the right) and an upright stick (on the left) which supports something crescent shaped (sickle?, moon?). Immediately below this hand (the inner left hand) there is something circular seen (is it there?) that could be a head or -chakra- (note 5). How's about a pot?A rock shelter (20 m wide, up to 4 or 7 m high and 6 to 10 m -long-) in sandstone (note 1) contains cave paintings (KUSCH 2003: 115-117 illustration 14 and 16) at a situation immediately below (KUSCH 2003: 105) a 40 m high -rocky needle-, a prominent landmark, on the way to –>Sateri Cave. ARCHAEOLOGY - pottery: The fragment of a round pot's rim (14 cm in diameter) is described by KUSCH (2003: 115, 116 illustration 15). CULTURAL HISTORY - rock art: KUSCH (2003: 115-117, illustrations 14, 16) describes from the ceiling in the central part of the rock shelter at least four groups of cave paintings in white highlighted with some -red- (ochre?). The paintings depict two warriors and two men (one in a poor state of preservation) with weapons, swords and shields dated to historical times (note 2). The fifth and largest person depicted is a -woman- (note 3) identified with Durga (note 4). This figure is depicted with two pairs of arms. The inner arms hold unidentified items and the outer ars a dagger (on the right) and an upright stick (on the left) which supports something crescent shaped (sickle?, moon?). Immediately below this hand (the inner left hand) there is something circular seen (is it there?) that could be a head or -chakra- (note 5). How's about a pot?