->Ritvik S: /* Inscription outside the Temple */

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Inscription outside the Temple

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}
{{Short description|Cave Temple in Uttarakhand, India}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Patal Bhuvaneshwar Cave Temple
| image = Patal Bhuvneshwar-2-Kumoun.jpg
| alt = Entrance gate to Patal Bhuvaneshwar Cave Temple
| caption = Entrance gate to Patal Bhuvaneshwar Cave Temple
| map_type = India Uttarakhand
| map_caption = Location in Uttarakhand
| native_name = Patal Bhuvaneshwar Gufa Mandir
| country = {{IND}}
| state = [[Uttarakhand]]
| district = [[Pithoragarh district|Pithoragarh]]
| location = 14 km away from [[Gangolihat]]
| elevation_m = 1350
| deity = [[Shiva]]<br>[[Ganesha]]<br>[[Vishnu]]<br>33 other deities
| Direction_posture = East
| festivals = [[Maha Shivratri|Maha Shivaratri]]
}}
'''Patal Bhuvaneshwar''' (Hindi पाताल भुवनेश्वर) is a limestone cave temple 14 km from [[Gangolihat]] in the [[Pithoragarh district]] of [[Uttarakhand]] state in India. It is located in the village of Bhubneshwar. Legend and folklore have it that this cave enshrines Lord Shiva and thirty three koti demigods [33 types and not crore]. The cave is 160 m long and 90 feet deep from the point of entrance. Limestone rock formations have created various spectacular stalactite and stalagmite figures of various hues and forms. This cave has a narrow tunnel-like opening which leads to a number of caves. The cave is fully electrically illuminated.
Built by the flow of water, Patal Bhuvaneshwar is not just one cave, rather a series of caves within caves.

'''''"He who wants to feel the presence of eternal power should come to the sacred Bhuvneshwar situated near the confluence of Ramganga, Sarayu and Gupt-Ganga."'''''
''-Manaskhanda, Skanda Purana'', whose 800 verses refer to Patal Bhuvaneshwar

==Legend Of the Cave==
The first human to discover this cave was Raja Ritupurna who was a king in the Surya Dynasty (''Surya Vansha'') who was ruling [[Ayodhya]] (from the time of [[Rama]]) during the [[Treta Yuga]]. The story starts with Ritupurna and King Nala. It is said that once, King Nala was defeated by his wife, Queen Damayanti. In order to escape his wife’s prison Nala requested Ritupurna to hide him. Ritupurna took him to the forests of the Himalayas and asked him to stay there. While going back home he was fascinated by a deer which ran into woods and went after it. He could not find it and took rest under a tree. He had a dream where the deer was asking Ritupurna not to chase him. His sleep broke and as he woke up and went to a cave where a guard was standing. After enquiring about the cave he was allowed to go inside. Right at the entrance, Ritupurna met [[Shesha|Sheshnag]] who agreed to take him through the cave. It carried him on its hood. He saw the marvels of Gods taking place inside. He saw all the 33-koti (33 gods not 33 crore) gods and goddesses including Lord [[Shiva]] himself. It is said that after his visit, the cave was closed for ages with a slight prediction in the Skanda Purana that it will be reopened again in [[Kali Yuga]]. In the [[Kali Yuga]], [[Adi Shankaracharya]], during his visit to Himalayas re-discovered this cave. Since then regular worship and offering are being done at this place.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://theemerald.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/patal-bhuvaneshwar/ |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-06-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090526051216/http://theemerald.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/patal-bhuvaneshwar/ |archivedate=26 May 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==History==
According to belief, King Rituparna of the Sun dynasty (''Surya Vansha'') discovered the cave in the [[Treta Yuga]]. In the [[Kali Yuga]], [[Adi Shankaracharya]] visited this cave in 1191 AD. That was the beginning of the modern pilgrimage history, at Patal Bhuvaneshwar.<ref>Patal Bhuvaneshwar: The shrine beneath – Tourism pamphlet published by Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, Dehradun.</ref> The journey inside the cave has to be carried in feeble lights, holding protective iron chains. The Stone formations of [[Shesha|Sheshnag]] can be seen, holding the [[earth]], [[Heaven#Hinduism|heaven]] and the [[underworld]]. ‘Havan’ (fire sacrifice) is performed in a dimly lit, solemn atmosphere, under the spell of holy chants. You’ll also be impressed by the visit as these parts form the celestial heights of [[Shiva]]'s abode in [[Mount Kailash]]. The cave, it is believed, is connected by an underground route to Mount Kailash.<ref>Uttarakhand ‘The abode of Gods’ Published by Nest and Wings Ed. A.P. Agarwala 2009-10 page 218</ref>
It is believed that the [[Pandavas]] and their wife [[Draupadi]], the heroes of the [[Mahabharata]], proceeded towards their last journey in the [[Himalayas]] after meditating here, in front of Lord Shiva. This hidden pilgrimage situated at 1,350 m above sea level is mainly dedicated to Lord Shiva. Almost every god that you would have heard of resides in this mystifying cave. It is also believed that you can worship at Patal Bhuvaneshwar is equivalent to worshipping the [[Chota Char Dham]] of Uttarakhand.

The priest family, the Bhandaris are performing religious rites at Patal Bhuvaneshwar since the time of [[Adi Shankaracharya]]. More than 20 generations in the line. They are a treasure house of legends, lores, anecdotes and information about this holy place. It is also believed that this cave is internally connected to the four abodes /seats (Char Dham).
According to one belief, the original human head of lord [[Ganesha]] which was cut down by lord [[Shiva]], is situated here who creates obstacles for bad people to improve. This form of Ganesha is popularly known as ''Vighnaharta''. The head is now not recognisable as it is covered in a layer of limestone with an 8-petaled lotus-like formation (''Brahma-Kamala'') on top.

==Inscription outside the Temple==
[[File:Patal Bhuvaneshwar-Stairway to Heaven!!.jpg|thumb|The mouth of the cave]]
"This awesome cave is believed to be as old as the earth itself. It has been mentioned in detail in the 103 chapter of Manaskhand of "Skanda Purana". The first human who entered this cave was king "Rituparna" of Surya Dynasty during the [[Treta Yuga]]. It is said that during his visit, he had encountered several demons and "Sheshnaag" himself acted as his guide. One can see the gateway of the great ages in Patal Bhuvaneshwar. There are four entrances inside the cave named as ‘Randwar (Door of War)’ ‘Paapdwar (Door of Sin)’, ‘Dharmdwar (Door of [[Dharma#Hinduism|Dharma]]) ’ and ‘Mokshadwar (Door of [[Moksha#Hinduism|Moksha]] (liberation)’. The Paapdwar, literally the Door of Sin, was closed soon after the death of [[Ravana]] in the war of [[Lanka]] and the Randwar, literally, the Door of War, was closed down after the great [[Mahabharata]] War at [[Kurukshetra]]. At present only two gateways are opened (The Dharmdwar and Mokshadwar gates). You can see the tongue of Goddess [[Kali]], [[Airavata]] of [[Indra]], hair of Lord [[Shiva]] and several other wonders inside the caves of Patal Bhuvaneshwar.

In the [[Dvapara Yuga]] this cave was rediscovered by the [[Pandavas]]. In the [[Kali Yuga]], [[Adi Shankaracharya]] consecrated this cave temple and since 1191, this has been a place of visit, both for sightseeing and worship."

==Places to visit==
The motorable road ends half a kilometer away from the cave entrance. You have to descend nearly 100 steps into this narrow cave, to reach the sanctum sanctorum, which gives an overwhelming feeling that you’re entering the centre of the earth.

Each stone, each stalagmite within each cave or doorway, in magnificent erection reveals the story of Hindu pantheon in the shapes of Gods, Goddesses, saints and known mythological characters.

The naturally formed places to visit in Patal Bhuvaneshwar are :-
* [[Ganesha]]'s human head.
* [[Shiva]]'s hair.
* A naturally formed ([[Swayambhu]]) Shiva [[Lingam]].
* Replica idols of [[Amarnath Temple|Amarnath]], [[Kedarnath Temple|Kedarnath]] and [[Badrinath Temple|Badrinath]]. (Badrinath and Kedarnath are part of the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit).
* [[Swan]] idol (symbolises the swan of [[Brahma]] and [[Saraswati]]).
* Legs of an [[Indian elephant|elephant]] (symbolises the elephant vehicle [[Airavata]])
* A large man-made pond (kund) filled with water.
* A sculpture of the [[Kali Yuga]].
* 8 petaled [[lotus flower|lotus]] formation (symbolises a flower called ''Brahma-Kamala'' or "Heavenly Lotus").

==Places to stay==
Patal Bhuvaneshwar has emerged as an interesting area for tourists to visit and in the vicinity of the caves there are a few small hotels available for staying. Good Indian food and also Kumauni food is available there. Hotels are also available in the nearby town of Gangolihat. After visiting the caves one has an option to move to nearby other towns also namely Berinag and Chaukori. From these places a picturesque view of Himalaya can be seen. There is another hotel which is named as Hotel Bhuvaneshwari which provides accommodation at reasonable cost but in preferred Kumauni cultured based welcome. Patal Bhuvaneshwar is quite reachable by tri junction of Seraghat and again can be connected to another sacred pilgrim ''' Jageshwar Dham''' directly via Seraghat-Naini motor road. Jageshwar can be covered via visiting small villages like Dhankhet, Salla Bhatkot, Nali, Kunj Kimola etc places in between on the bank of beautiful river Sarayu.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030706235502/http://hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2003/05/23/stories/2003052301451000.htm "The cave shrine of Uttaranchal"], ''[[The Hindu]]'', 23 May 2003
* [http://www.nainitaltourism.com/patal_bhuvaneshwar.html Patal Bhuvaneshwar]
* [http://wikimapia.org/8732419/PATAL-BHUVNESHWAR-CAVE on map]

{{coord missing|Uttarakhand}}

[[Category:Hill stations in Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Hindu cave temples in India]]
[[Category:Limestone caves]]
[[Category:Show caves in India]]
[[Category:Pithoragarh]]
[[Category:Caves of Uttarakhand]]

Patal Bhuvaneshwar - Revision history

->Ritvik S: /* Inscription outside the Temple */