RAMTIRTHA SWAMI (Cave of Swami)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A difficult cave entrance leads to the most suitable and spacious of the caves at –>Rishikesh (note 1), from where ELIADE (1996: 347) narrates how -we stumbled upon the most contemplative, most spacious of all caves, a true hermitage retreat where Swami Ramtirtha, the most incomparable of all spiritual masters of India, had dwellt for six months. Having negotiated the entry with difficulties, we sat on the cold cave floor- (note 2). ETYMOLOGY: -Ramtirtha- is not identified but -swami- is a title of respect meaning 'lord of the self'; given to initiated Hindu monks (LONELY PLANET, India 2005 glossary: 1112). SITUATION: Unidentified. Somewhere above the left (south) bank of Ganges river below –>Brahmapuri near Rishikesh (N30°07': E78°19' WGS84).A difficult cave entrance leads to the most suitable and spacious of the caves at –>Rishikesh (note 1), from where ELIADE (1996: 347) narrates how -we stumbled upon the most contemplative, most spacious of all caves, a true hermitage retreat where Swami Ramtirtha, the most incomparable of all spiritual masters of India, had dwellt for six months. Having negotiated the entry with difficulties, we sat on the cold cave floor- (note 2). ETYMOLOGY: -Ramtirtha- is not identified but -swami- is a title of respect meaning 'lord of the self'; given to initiated Hindu monks (LONELY PLANET, India 2005 glossary: 1112). SITUATION: Unidentified. Somewhere above the left (south) bank of Ganges river below –>Brahmapuri near Rishikesh (N30°07': E78°19' WGS84).