MATSYA GUNDAM POTHOLE
18.164400,82.626900
Description
The Machkund River (also: Macheru) disappears a kilometre north-west of the village of Mattam (Matam) into »a great hole and vanishes beneath this, reappearing again about 100 feet [30 m] lower down« (approximately north) at the »curious pool« known as »Machha Gundam« (FRANCIS 1907: 285) or »Matsya Gundam« (Survey of India sheet 65-J/12, edition 1982). ETYMOLOGY: The Hindi (etc.) "matsya" means fish and "gundam" (kund, etc.) is a pool or pond. SITUATION: In the Mudugula Kondas (India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth 2006: 96 B4) about 75 km in a direct line approximately NW from Visakhapatnam (N17°42': E083°18) and »… on the Macheru near the village of Matam« or Mattam (note 1), »6 miles [10 km] north-north-west of Paderu [note 2) and close to the Yendrika hill, 5.188 feet [1580 m] above the sea« (FRANCIS 1907: 285). CAVE DESCRIPTION: »A barrier of rock runs straight across the river there, and the stream plunges into a great hole and vanishes beneath this, reappearing again about 100 feet [30 m] lower down. Just where it emerges from under the barrier it forms a pool which is crowded with mahseer [note 3] of all sizes …« (FRANCIS 1907: 285 edited 1992: 285 after J A Sandel, Superintendent of Police, Jeypore). CULTURAL HISTORY: »Matsya Gundam« (fish pond) or »Manche Gundam« (pool sacred to Mancha-Amma / Mancha-Mata), the ancient "Indian" tribal snake goddess responsible for "fertility" (prosperity, welfare): »The goddess is variously called Nagamata, Mancha-Amma and Mancha-Mata. It is argued that the correct form of the deity's name is Mancha, which tends to be phonetically rendered as Manasa; hence the orthographic form is changed to Mansa-Amma or Mansa-Mata. The southern Mansa Mata became Mansa or Manasa in Bengal« (JAIN 2004: 340). Compare: MITRA, Sarat Chandra (1920-1924): The cult of the lake goddess in Orissa.- Journal of the Anthropological Society of Bombay, XII« (JAIN Sandhya 2004: 269 item 16).
NOTE 1: »Matam« (FRANCIS 1907: 285) is indicated as »Mattam« (with Post Office) near N18°09'20”: E087°38'02” (Everest 1830) on Survey of India sheet 65-J/12 (edition 1982). »Matam. -- A college« (HAMILTON, W 1828, 2: 727). NOTE 2: The small town of Paderu is shown near N18°05': E82°40' (Everest 1830) at 950 m asl on Survey of India sheet 65-J/12 (edition 1982) and positioned as Paderoo and Paderu at N18°05': E82°40' on nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003). NOTE 3: Mahseer (mahasir), literally: "big-headed", »a large carp, Barbus tor« (IMPERIAL GAZETTEER 1907-1909, 25: xviii).
Cavités proche
| Distance (km) | Nom | Longueur (m) | Profondeur (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39.4 | Borra Caves | ||
| 41.2 | NILGALGUNTA (Cave at) | ||
| 43.2 | KOTHIGUDA LIMESTONE OCCURRENCE | ||
| 46.1 | PEDDAGUNDA STREAM CAVE | ||
| 52.1 | REGA (Cave at) | ||
| 85.2 | RAMATIRTHAM CAVE TEMPLES | ||
| 87.6 | MAKKUVA CAVES | ||
| 98.5 | DEVUDU KONDA (Cave on the) | ||
| 125.1 | NIAMRAJA's CAVE |