Pratakeshwar Gufa, Mehargaon

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

An unspecified cave entrance (unidentified shape, unidentified dimensions, unidentified orientation), which has been identified as a very narrow way to enter and is characterised by a priest at the entrance (Tushar 2010.06.14), is said to allow or to prohibit access to an unspecified cave (apparently exploited as a religious show cave), which contains speleothems represented not only by well developed stalagmites and stalactites (note 1) but also by electric cables and at least one light blue coloured lamp shade with a light bulb installed on the cave ceiling to provide blinding illumination (BASKAR, S et al. 2011: 554 figure 2c). ETYMOLOGY: The cave name Prakateshwar Cave (BASKAR, S et al. 2011: 554) or -Cave of the Light Master- is based on the name of a male Hindu god (note 2) in charge of something along the lines of light or enlightment and illumination, manifestation, publication, etc. The other cave names, which are based on Brahmakhal (BASKAR, S et al. 2011: 554) and Nagarmehagaon (Tushar 2010.06.14) or the village Mehar Gaon (BASKAR, S et al. 2011: 554) are, of course, not names of the cave proper but those of a -gaon- (village) and a -nagar- (town), of which one is called after -meher- and the other after a -khal- or valley or on the stream at the bottom of a valley (note 3), which is called after -Brahma- (note 4). The alternative cave nameSo far, I saw this cave called Brahamakhal (Prakateshwar) cave BASKAR, S et al. (2011: 554 fig. 2d caption).Brahmakhal (Prakateshwar) Cave BASKAR, S et al. (2011: 554) Brahmakhal (Prakateswar) Caves BASKAR, S et al. (2011: 554) Nagarmehargaon Shiv Gufa Tushar (2010.06.14) Prakateshwar Cave BASKAR, S et al. (2011); aravindgj.blogspot.de (accessed 2013.02.10) Prakateshwar Panchanan Mahadev Shiv Gufa Tushar (2010.06.14 accessed 2013.02.09). SITUATION: Unknown. Somewhere in the Uttar Kashi District and probably close to the National Highway NH94 in the drainage basin of the Yamuna river: Nagarmehargaon is 7 km from Brahmahal on the way towards Yamunotri (note 5). SITUATION 2008: Not seen: TEWARI (2008). SITUATION 2009: Not seen: TEWARI (2009). SITUATION 2010a: Prakateshwar cave is between Barkot [N30°49': E078°12' or N30°39': E078°33'] and Uttar Kashi [N30°44': E078°27'] … almost next to the road. … We had to climb some 100 steps to reach the entrance of the cave (aravindgj.blogspot.de/2010/07/prakateshwar-cave-an… (accessed 2013.02.10). SITUATION 2010b: 30°43'53” N: 78°16'49” E very near to NH. One has to climb about 100 stairs to reach caves (wikimapia.org/23976246/Prakateshwar-Shiva-Temple accessed 2013.02.10). SITUATION 2011: In an unspecified spatial relation near the village Mehar Gaon in Uttarkashi district of the Garhwal Himalaya (BASKAR, S et al. 2011: 554). POSITION 2011: The stunningly absurd coordinates, which BASKAR, S et al. (2011: 554) associated with the entance to this cave (note 6), feature not only more than one hundred (100) instead of up to sixty (6) seconds per minute 30°23'145- N: 78°07'743” E (unspecified precision error, unidentified geodetic datum, BASKAR, S et al. 2011: 554) but also indicate the location of the cave entrance but that of Dehra Dun (note 7), the capital of Uttarakhand stand state, and spots near N longtitude E latitude format DD°MM'SS.S” 30.2314.5° 78.07743° DD.DDDDD° N30°13'53.2”: E078°04'38.8” 30°23.145' 78°07.743' DD°MM.MMM' N30°23'08.7”: E078°07'44.6” 30°23'14.5” 78°07.74.3” DD°MM'SS.S' impossible (more than 60 seconds per minute). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2010a: The cave is dark with a very narrow way to enter and rocky 4-5 stairs that reaches below. Within the cave Lord Ganesha, Panchmukhi Shivling, Parvati, Nandi, Crocodile, Lion Nails, Sheshnaag are visible within rocks and most important Gupt Ganga flowing (Tushar 2010.06.14). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2010b: Natural caves formed by lime stone. One has to climb about 100 stairs to reach caves. To enter caves, one needs to crawl into it, bu can stand inside. The lime stone formation resembles Shivling , thus called a shiva temple (wikimapia.org/23976246/Prakateshwar-Shiva-Temple). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2010c: Prakateshwar cave … is a natural cave is formed by limestone … almost next to the road. The cave has attained religious significance due to the limestone formations resembling Shiva Linga. We had to climb some 100 steps to reach the entrance of the cave. Crawling down the cave will lead to an area where we can stand and look at the formations. Cold water flows in the cave creating a small pool; the water then is used as sacred water (aravindgj.blogspot.de/2010/07 accessed 2013.02.10). CULTURAL HISTORY - human use: The cave names based on Prakateshwar and the artificial illumination (BASKAR, S et al. 2011 figure 2c) appear to hint to an exploitation of the cave as a sacred show cave (temple cave) and religious industry outlet, especially since Tushar (2010.06.14) draws the attention of priest watchers not only to Bhagwat Prasad, the priest at the cave entrance but also to the usual pujari tales, which are often considered as the history and narration by the priest. CULTURAL HISTORY - cave legend: June 1998 there was an irrigation project within the village. Bhanu Prakash -- elder brother was the member of the committee. Search to search water was almost futile. Seven days labor but water wasn’t visible though the sound of water was heard numerous times by people. 22nd June 1998 Bhanu Prakash had a dream. Lord Shiva representing as sadhu said – Next day I will appear. And 23rd June water was discovered after opening of the cave walls and was named as Prakateshwar Panchanan Mahadev Shiv Gufa (Tushar 2010.06.14 after a certain Bhagwati Prasad, the priest at the cave entrance). can stand inside. The lime stone formation resembles Shivling , thus called a shiva temple (wikimapia.org/23976246/Prakateshwar-Shiva-Temple). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2010c: Prakateshwar cave … is a natural cave is formed by limestone … almost next to the road. The cave has attained religious significance due to the limestone formations resembling Shiva Linga. We had to climb some 100 steps to reach the entrance of the cave. Crawling down the cave will lead to an area where we can stand and look at the formations. Cold water flows in the cave creating a small pool; the water then is used as sacred water (aravindgj.blogspot.de/2010/07 accessed 2013.02.10). CULTURAL HISTORY - human use: The cave names based on Prakateshwar and the artificial illumination (BASKAR, S et al. 2011 figure 2c) appear to hint to an exploitation of the cave as a sacred show cave (temple cave) and religious industry outlet, especially since Tushar (2010.06.14) draws the attention of priest watchers not only to Bhagwat can stand inside. The lime stone formation resembles Shivling , thus called a shiva temple (wikimapia.org/23976246/Prakateshwar-Shiva-Temple). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2010c: Prakateshwar cave … is a natural cave is formed by limestone … almost next to the road. The cave has attained religious significance due to the limestone formations resembling Shiva Linga. We had to climb some 100 steps to reach the entrance of the cave. Crawling down the cave will lead to an area where we can stand and look at the formations. Cold water flows in the cave creating a small pool; the water then is used as sacred water (aravindgj.blogspot.de/2010/07 accessed 2013.02.10). CULTURAL HISTORY - human use: The cave names based on Prakateshwar and the artificial illumination (BASKAR, S et al. 2011 figure 2c) appear to hint to an exploitation of the cave as a sacred show cave (temple cave) and religious industry outlet, especially since Tushar (2010.06.14) draws the attention of priest watchers not only to Bhagwat Prasad, the priest at the cave entrance but also to the usual pujari tales, which are often considered as the history and narration by the priest. CULTURAL HISTORY - cave legend: June 1998 there was an irrigation project within the village. Bhanu Prakash -- elder brother was the member of the committee. Search to search water was almost futile. Seven days labor but water wasn’t visible though the sound of water was heard numerous times by people. 22nd June 1998 Bhanu Prakash had a dream. Lord Shiva representing as sadhu said – Next day I will appear. And 23rd June water was discovered after opening of the cave walls and was named as Prakateshwar Panchanan Mahadev Shiv Gufa (Tushar 2010.06.14 after a certain Bhagwati Prasad, the priest at the cave entrance).