Sacred Caves
Introduction
A cave is a cavity inside the earth which may be either natural or artificial in origin. Natural caves come into existence by the action of water or tectonic displacement. Since time memorial both natural and artificial caves have served humankind in various capacities.
Caves are considered sacred if they are associated with Gods, Goddesses, deities or mythical and magical figures, saints and preachers. They are also considered sacred if they are source of sacred rivers and streams or house sacred animals.
The use of caves for religious practices by individuals and groups extends back in time for at least several millennia in India. The Buddha dwelled and meditated in caves, forests, and other kinds of natural sites, practices which became common for Buddhist monks and nuns during his lifetime and beyond. Whenever Buddhism spread beyond India into other parts of Asia the religious use of caves spread as well. The same was the case with Jain Thirthankaras and their followers. Caves serve monks and nuns as secluded and peaceful places for monastic life, meditation, and chanting. A holy person might dwell in a cave for merely a few days or for months or even years. (1)
Caves affect the environment in positive ways. They support a natural habitat for life forms that require consistent temperatures and dark living conditions. Caves provide a valuable, clean water source that’s naturally preserved in underground rock formations. As long as caves are free of human-initiated pollutants, they contribute to the environment in healthy ways and aid in the overall cycle of life. (2)
Sacredness associated with caves has played an important role in their conservation and thus helped in conserving the biodiversity. Indeed, sacred caves may be one component of a very ancient, widespread, and diverse system of sacred places throughout much of Asia which traditionally had far reaching significance for environmental and biodiversity conservation.
Source
LIST OF SACRED caves in india
Location | Name of the Caves |
Andhra Pradesh
| Ahobilam |
Akiripalli | |
Akka Mahadevi caves | |
Akkana and Madanna Caves | |
Bodhikonda and Ghanikonda | |
Bojjannakonda and Lingalakonda | |
Borra caves | |
Guntupalli Caves | |
Kotturu Dhanadibbalu & Pandavula Guha | |
Mogalrajapuram caves | |
Nagarjunakonda caves | |
Undavalli Caves | |
Yaganti | |
Arunachal Pradesh | Dukhang Caves |
Meghna Cave | |
Assam
| Basistha Cave Temple |
Jogighopa Cave Temples | |
Kamakhya Cave Temple | |
Suryapahar cave | |
Bihar
| Barabar Caves |
Dungeshwari Cave Temples or Mahakala caves | |
Indasala Caves | |
Patalpuri and Bateshwar cave | |
Pippala cave | |
Saptparni Cave or Sattaparnaguha Cave | |
Sonbhandar caves | |
Chhattisgarh
| Bel Mahadev Cave |
Jogi Cave | |
Kailash Caves | |
Khuriarani Cave | |
Ramgarh and Sita Bengra caves | |
Sitamani Temples and Caves | |
Goa
| Arvalem Caves |
Dabos Cave | |
Khandepar caves | |
Lamgau Caves | |
Mangueshi Cave | |
Narve Caves | |
Rivona caves | |
Gujarat
| Baba Pyare Caves |
Devni Mori | |
Jami Masjid Cave | |
Kadia Dungar Caves | |
Khambhalida Caves | |
Khapra Kodiya Caves | |
Sana Caves | |
Siyot caves | |
Talaja Caves | |
Uperkot caves | |
Vadnagar cave or Jogida ni Gufa | |
Himachal Pradesh
| Arjuna Gufa |
Baba Balaknath Cave Temple | |
Dhoongri Temple | |
Masrur Rock Cut Temples | |
Tabo Monastery | |
Trilokpur Lord Shiva Cave | |
Jammu and Kashmir
| Adkuwari Cave temple |
Amarnath cave | |
Baba Dhansar cave | |
Bumzu or Bhaumajo Caves | |
Butta Guffa | |
Mahanaal cave | |
Moungri cave | |
Peer Kho Cave Temple | |
Phuktal Gonpa | |
Saspol Caves | |
Shergol Cave monastery | |
Shiv Khori Cave Temple | |
Takthok monastery | |
Vaishno Devi Cave temple | |
Visvesvara Caves | |
Jharkhand
| Anjani gufa |
Bhairo Baba caves | |
Kunda Cave | |
Malmalpur and Shitalpur Caves | |
Panch Pandava Pahar | |
Pandulata and Ghorlata Caves | |
Shivgadi Cave Temple | |
Taponath Mahadeva cave temple | |
Karnataka
| |
Badami Caves | |
Gandhal Cave | |
Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple | |
Hulimav Cave Temple | |
Kaiwara Gavi (Caves) | |
Kavala Caves | |
Narasimha Zarana Cave Temple | |
Sri Somanatheshwara Cave temple, Nellitheertha | |
Sugreeva’s cave | |
Yana Caves | |
Kerala
| Kallil cave temple Methala |
Kaviyoor Thrikkakkudi Cave Temple | |
Kottukkal cave temple | |
Madavoorpara Siva Rock Cut temple | |
Punarjani Guha | |
Sree Irunilamkode cave temple | |
Trikkur Mahadeva Rock Cut Temple | |
Vizhinjam Rock Cut Caves | |
Madhya Pradesh
| Bagh Caves |
Bhartrihari caves | |
Dhamnar Caves | |
Jatashankar | |
Pandav Caves | |
Sri Govinda Bhagavatpada Cave | |
Udayagiri Caves | |
| Ajanta Caves |
Aurangabad Caves | |
Bedse Caves | |
Bhaja Caves | |
Dandoba Mahadev Cave Temple | |
Dharashiv caves | |
Dhokeshwar Mahadeva temple | |
Elephanta Caves | |
Ellora Caves | |
Jogeshwari caves | |
Kachargadh Caves | |
Kanheri Caves | |
Karla Caves | |
Kondana Caves | |
Lenyadri Group of Caves, Junnar | |
Mahakali Caves | |
Mandapeshwar Caves | |
Pandu Leni | |
Parashar Caves | |
Pitalkhora Caves | |
Rajpuri Caves | |
Meghalaya
| Krem Mawjymbuin Cave |
Marai Cave | |
| Barunei Caves |
Budhakhol Caves | |
Devagiri Hill Cave | |
Gupteswar Cave | |
Koilighugar Cave | |
Lalitgiri Caves | |
Mahuri Kalua Temple | |
Narangarh Cave | |
Olasuni Gumpha | |
Padapadma Gumpha and Sita Gumpha | |
Patali Srikhetra | |
Ramchandi Cave Temple | |
Ratnagiri caves | |
Sitabhinji Cave | |
Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves | |
Punjab
| Gurdaspur caves |
Mukteshwar cave temple | |
Rajasthan
| Adhar Devi cave temple |
Binnayaga Buddhist caves | |
Hathiagor Buddhist Caves | |
Kolvi Caves | |
Madareshwar Cave Temple | |
Niranjani cave | |
Parshuram Mahadev Cave Temple | |
Sikkim
| Byang Lhari- rinchen- nying Phug |
Lho Khandro- Sang Phug | |
Nub-Dechén Phug | |
Shar- chok Bé Phug | |
Tamil Nadu
| Arittapatti Caves |
Cave Temples of Mahabalipuram | |
Gokarnesvara Cave Temple, Thirugokarnam | |
Karpaga Vinayagar Cave Temple | |
Kazhugumalai Rock Cut Temples | |
Keelavalavu | |
Kuranganilmuttam Rock cut Temple | |
Mahendravadi Cave Temple | |
Malayadipatti Rock Cut Temples | |
Mandagapattu Cave Temple | |
Melacheri Cave Temple | |
Namakkal Caves | |
Narthamalai Caves | |
Rock Fort Caves | |
Mamandur | |
Seeyamangalam Rock cut Temples | |
Singaperumal cave temple | |
Singavaram | |
Sittannavasal | |
Thalavanur Satrumalleswara swamy cave temple | |
Thirukazhukundram | |
Thirumalapuram Rock Cut Temples | |
Thirumayam | |
Thirunanthikarai Cave Temple | |
Thiruparankundram Rock cut Temple | |
Thiruvellarai | |
Vallam Rock Cut Temples | |
Vallimalai | |
Vilappakkam | |
Yanaimalai | |
Telangana
| Saleshwaram Cave Temple |
Vyasa Muni Guha | |
Uttarakhand
| Drona Cave |
Koteshwar Mahadev Cave Temple | |
Patal Bhuvaneshwar Cave Temple | |
Shiva Gufa | |
Vyas cave | |
Budher Cave | |
Eco Cave Garden | |
Ganesh Gufa | |
Gauri Udiyar Cave | |
Gorcha Cave | |
Mahavatar Babaji Cave | |
Pandav Gufa | |
Robbers Cave | |
Timmersain Mahadev Cave | |
Uttar Pradesh
| Gupt Godavari |
Muchkund Caves | |
Prabhosa | |
West Bengal | Mahakal Cave |