UMANANDA GUHA

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

An unspecified entrance (unidentified shape, unidentified dimensions, unidentified orientation, unidentified characteristics) was at least partly understood to give access to an unspecified -one more sancturay- with an unidentified name, which is dedicated to unidentified Hindu goddess or god (no name mentioned) and was in early January 2015 (no date mentioned) not only overcrowded with humans but also seemed to give access to a flight of stone steps leading down to an unspecified -adytum- (note 1) or -garbha griha- (note 2), which consisted of a dimly-lit and much incense-perfumed -cave-like room- (with unidentified dimensions) in which pious people seemed to touch a sacred rock with an unidentified significance (Lindenmayr, F circa 2015.02.11 undated Mss: Meghalaya 2015). ETYMOLOGY: A retired school teacher from Bavaria identified in January 2015 instantly and on the spot not a single trace of an autochthonous, indigenous or locally known name for what was regarded as a höhlenartige Raum or cave-like room associated with an unidentified weiteres Hinduheiligtum or one more Hindu sanctuary (Lindenmayr, F circa 2015.02.11 undated Mss: Meghalaya 2015). For the time being, this item is listed as -Umananda Guha- or -guha- (Assamiya / Assamese), cave named after its association with the temple dedicated to Umananda (from Sanskrit / Assamese -Uma-, another name for the Hindu goddess Parvati, and -ananda- bliss, happiness), which stands on the island of the same name. The island's alternative name is Bhasmachal, literally -hill of ashes-, from Sanskrit / Assamese -bhasma- ash, and -achal- hill. The British are said to have named the island Peacock Island for its shape (note 3). SITUATION: In an unidentified setting and in an unspecified location somewhere on the Umananda Island (Bhasmachal, Peacock Island) in the river Brahmaputra flowing through the city of Gauhati (Guwahati 26°11'N: 91°44'E). CAVE DESCRIPTION: A dimly-lit and much incense-perfumed -cave-like room (with unidentified dimensions) where the focus of attraction (unidentified cause) was an apparently black-coloured variety of -rock- (unidentified mineral material) that rested centrally on the floor of an unspecified -the precinct- or region, zone, sector, quarter, locality, and locale (note 4). CULTURAL HISTORY -- cave legend: According to Hindu mythology (note 5), Shiva created the island for his wife Parvati's happiness and pleasure. Shiva is said to have resided here in the form of Bhayananda. According to a myth in Kalika Purana (note 6), Shiva burnt Kamadeva (Kamdeb) with his third eye on Umananda because he tried to interrupt Shiva's deep meditation, hence its alternative name Bhasmachal (Assamese: bhasma, -ash-; and achal, -hill-; literally, -hill of ashes-). When Sati died of vexation at the discourtesy shown to her husband Siva by her father Daksha, Siva overcame grief, wandered about the world carrying her dead body on his head. In order to put a stop to his penance, ishnu followed him and lopped away the body piecemeal with his discus. It fell to the earth in fifty-one different pieces, and whence ever each piece fell, the ground was held to be sacred. Her organ of generation fell on Kamagiri, i.e. the Nilachal hill near Gauhati, and the place was henceforth held sacred to Kamakhya, the Goddess of sexual desire. As Siva till continued to do penence, the other gods … despatched Kamdeb [Kamadeva], the Indian Cupid, to make him fall in love again, and therebay break his penance. He succeeded in his mission, but so enraged was Siva at the result, that he burnt him to ashes by a fiery glance from the eye in the centre of his forehead. Kamdeb eventually recovered his original form and the country where this took place became known as Kamarupa (GAIT, E A 11906/ 1997: 11). CULTURAL HISTORY -- religious industry: Maha Shivaratri is widely celebrated in Umananda. Monday is considered to be the holiest day in the temple and the new moon brings bliss to the ilgrims.ishnu followed him and lopped away the body piecemeal with his discus. It fell to the earth in fifty-one different pieces, and whence ever each piece fell, the ground was held to be sacred. Her organ of generation fell on Kamagiri, i.e. the Nilachal hill near Gauhati, and the place was henceforth held sacred to Kamakhya, the Goddess of sexual desire. As Siva till continued to do penence, the other gods … despatched Kamdeb [Kamadeva], the Indian Cupid, to make him fall in love again, and therebay break his penance. He succeeded in his mission, but so enraged was Siva at the result, that he burnt him to ashes by a fiery glance from the eye in the centre of his forehead. Kamdeb eventually recovered his original form and the country where this took place became known as Kamarupa (GAIT, E A 11906/ 1997: 11). CULTURAL HISTORY -- religious industry: Maha Shivaratri is widely celebrated in Umananda. Monday is considered to be the holiest day in the temple and the new moon brings bliss to the ilgrims.