Patal Bhuvneshwar Cave in Uttaralkhand state is among the famous tourist spot. It is situated in Pithoragarh district of the state. The lush green area surrounded by pine forest here has a complete series of underground caves. The largest among them is the famous cave with a temple of Lord Shiva inside it. This cave is around 90 feet beneath a huge mountain. This cave known as Pataal Bhuvneshwar is among the mysterious places in India.
Patal Bhuvneshwar Cave
The Patal Bhuvneshwar Temple is situated about 160 kilometers away from Almora District while moving from Almora to Sheraghaat in the lush green mountain meadows of Gangolihat town. The picturesque white belt of Himalayan Mountain range nanda Devi, Pancculi, Pindari etc. are visible in the way to Patal Bhuvneshwar.
The Patal Bhuvneshwar Temple is situated about 160 kilometers away from Almora District while moving from Almora to Sheraghaat in the lush green mountain meadows of Gangolihat town. The picturesque white belt of Himalayan Mountain range nanda Devi, Pancculi, Pindari etc. are visible in the way to Patal Bhuvneshwar.
Religious Affiliations
“Skanda Puraan” one of India’s oldest scripture also depicts each and every stone craft inside and oudsite the cave, make them full of mystery and are hiding a secret in them. As per one belief, Pandava’s came here for penance (Tapasya in Hindi), and this place was rediscovered by Adi Shankaracharya in Kaliyug. The path to the cave is a narrow one, and is about 90 feet below. Underneath the ground a series of caves are there, the seeping water has created number of shapes. The priests of temple copare them with different deities of Hindu religion.
“Skanda Puraan” one of India’s oldest scripture also depicts each and every stone craft inside and oudsite the cave, make them full of mystery and are hiding a secret in them. As per one belief, Pandava’s came here for penance (Tapasya in Hindi), and this place was rediscovered by Adi Shankaracharya in Kaliyug. The path to the cave is a narrow one, and is about 90 feet below. Underneath the ground a series of caves are there, the seeping water has created number of shapes. The priests of temple copare them with different deities of Hindu religion.
Mythology of Patal Bhuvneshwar
According to Mythology King Rituparna of Sun Dynasty discovered the cave in Treta Yug. It has been stated in Manas Khand of Skand Puran. It is also believed that that the cave is internally connected to the Char Dham. The place was visited by Adi Shankaracharya in 1191 AD. It was the beginning of new pilgrimage history at Patal Buvneshwar.
According to Mythology King Rituparna of Sun Dynasty discovered the cave in Treta Yug. It has been stated in Manas Khand of Skand Puran. It is also believed that that the cave is internally connected to the Char Dham. The place was visited by Adi Shankaracharya in 1191 AD. It was the beginning of new pilgrimage history at Patal Buvneshwar.
Shiv Linga Estasblished by Adi Guru Shankaracharya in 1191 AD
Highlights
1. The place is famous
from since ancient times. The entrance of cave is looks like a 4 feet long and
one and a half feet wide door of a small house.
Entrance to Cave
2. The cave has statues of
33 crore deities of Hindu religion. The temple inside the cave is dedicated to
Lord Shiva. It is said that Lord Bramha along with other Gods come here to
worship Lord Shiva. The passage to inside the temple is through a narrow stream
of natural water.
3. There are no stairs
available to go 25 feet deep inside the cave.
Shiv Jata
4. At the entrance to the
cave, on the first floor of Pataal, one can get sight of Lord Narsimha. Moving
further down naturally carved structure is in the shape of multiple headed
Sheshnag. The belief is that earth is resting on it.
5. A small holy fire pit is visible, when we move
ahead; the fire pit belongs to the King Janmejaya. It is believd that to take revenge of the
death of his father King Parikshit caused by snake bite of Takshaka Naag (King
of snakes), organised a ritual to burn all speceis of snakes in this fire pit.
Just above the fire pit is the statue of same Takshak Naag.
6. The foot prints of
elephants on the rocks are also an attraction, it is believed to have the foot
marks of Lord Indra’s Elepahant, Eiraawat (elephant with 1000 legs). The passage to the
middle of the cave is just like the body of snake (Shesh Naag), it will really cause
goosebumps.
Legs of Eiraawat Elephant
7. Moving ahead in the
caves, at one place a shape of cow’s tit is visible. It is said to be the tit of
Kamdhenu cow through which a continuous stream of water falls over vrishbhesh.
8. A statue of swan with
neck turned around is another mysterious thing. It is situated near a water
chamber known as “Amrit Kund”. It is said that water chamber was made by lord
Shiva for his snakes, and Swan was given the duty to protect that place. Once
when swan tried to drink water from the water chamber, which it was not supposed
to do, Lord Shiva turned swan’s neck in direction opposite to chamber.
The Swan Statue
Amrit Kund
9. The statues of Lord Bramha,
Vishnu and Mahesh are also there placed side by side. The real happening which
will make you to put your finger in mouth with surprise is that water droplets
falls over these statues one by one in sequence , firstly on Bramha then Vishnu
and then over Shiv, from a single hole in the roof, the process repeats itself
in the same sequence again and again.
10. At a place in the
caves, there are 4 stone pillars protruding from the surface. These pillar
represents the four Yugas viz. Satyuga, Tretayuga, Dwaparyuga and Kaliyug (the
current time period). There is no change in the height of pillars representing
the first three Yuga, but the Kaliyug pillar’s height is increasing, just above
this pillar a stone bob is hanging from the roof and it is said that when this
Kaliyug pillar will touch the bob, it will be the end of Kaliyug era. As per
the priests the pillar increases in height by 1 inch in a time span of 7 crore
years.
Kaliyug Pillar
11. There is a place which
is said to Lord Shiva Bag of fulfilling the wishes. Belief is that if one passes
an item made of metal through the hole in the bag, it will make their wish come
true.
Shiv Kamandal
12. Here is Enthroned Ganesha Chopped Head
Lord Ganesha is first
to be worshiped god in Hinduism. According to mythology the Lord Ganesha was beheaded
by Lord Shiva in anger, later on the behest of Goddess Parvati, head of elephant
was transplanted to Lord Ganesha. The
chopped head was kept by Lord Shiva in this cave.
Head of Lord Ganesha with Lotus of 108 Petals
Just above the symbolizing stone craft of chopped head of Lord Ganesha is a lotus of 108 petals, known as Bramha Kamal. The droplets of water fall over the lord Ganesha, it is believed that this Bramha Kamal was established by Lord Shiva here.
Bramh Kamal (Lotus with 108 petals)
It is said that earlier there were four doors in the cave taking passage to 4 different directions. The four doors in the cave are known as Paap Dwaar (Door of sin), Yudh Dwaar (door of war), Dharm Dwaar (door of righteousness) and Kartaya Dwaar (door of duty). Out of 4 three doors are closed now, which were associated with some important events of past. The door of Sin was closed after the death of Ravna, the door of War was closed after Mahabharata, and door of Righteousness closed after Yudhistir got nirvana. Only the door of duty is open now, symbolizing that in this era the direction of duty towards the supreme self is the only direction for human beings.
15. Kedarnath, Badrinath and Amarnath at one place
Here Kedarnath, Badrinath and Amarnath have also appeared. In Badrinath, the staues of bari panchayat are there, which includes Yam-Kuber, Varun, Laxmi and Garuda. The shape of Takshak snake also appears in the rocks of cave. Above the Badripanchayat is cave of Amarnath, where number of long hair like rock needles are protruding from the roof, they are believed to be the hair of lord Shiva.
Uttarakahand is really the "Land of God", explore it.
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Here Kedarnath, Badrinath and Amarnath have also appeared. In Badrinath, the staues of bari panchayat are there, which includes Yam-Kuber, Varun, Laxmi and Garuda. The shape of Takshak snake also appears in the rocks of cave. Above the Badripanchayat is cave of Amarnath, where number of long hair like rock needles are protruding from the roof, they are believed to be the hair of lord Shiva.
Uttarakahand is really the "Land of God", explore it.
Kindly like us, Share us, Follow us and Comment.
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