ShivaSharana Cave, Basava Kalyana

September 2, 2018

We had left Hyderabad around 5-15 AM, reached Basava Kalyana at 7-30. Our plan was to see the 108' statue of Vishwaguru Basaveshwara first, however the garden wasn't open for public yet. So we had tea and then drove to Anubhava Mantapa, about 1.6 kms away. Anubhava Mantapa, also called Maha Mane, is situated on a elevated spot right next to Tripuranthakere (Tripurantha lake). The place has a peaceful ambiance. Having spent about 45 minutes at Anubhava Mantapa, we had breakfast.. chapati, sprouts and cucumber. Tummy satisfied, we continued our tour.. came back to Basaveshwara memorial. Instead of climbing the hillock we decided to check out the man made cave in memory of XII Century Shiva-Sharanas. This is the path leading to the cave entrance..

This region is rich in laterite rock which is easy to shape, hence a popular source of material. Laterite boulders are also convenient to hack into and form cave shelters. During the XII Century Kalyana revolution, when Shiva Sharanas were persecuted by King Bijjala's soldiers, Shiva Sharanas hid in natural and artificial shelters around Kalyana. In the present day, these caves are a tourist attraction. The cave's caretaker lead us into the cave's innards lighting our path with a LED lamp. There are small chambers dedicated to some of the prominent Shiva Sharanas like Allama Prabhu, Akka Mahadevi, Basaveshwara, his wives Neelambike and Gangambike, nephew Channabasaveshwara, Madiwala Machayya, and few others.

This idol depicts Basaveshwara wife Neelambike.

I decided to use the flash so that the cave walls are seen. The cave makers have given an artistic touch to the walls. This chamber is dedicated to Allama Prabhu, the mystic who used to preside over Anubhava Mantapa.

I happened to notice the rails in one part of the cave. Our caretaker said that work was still going on, the rails are to run trolleys transporting overburden, material and equipment. Interesting to  work in such projects.

This larger chamber is dedicated to Basaveshwara, its become a shrine.

A chamber dedicated to Akka Mahadevi, the lady mystic who had accepted Lord Shiva as her husband.

Another view of the cave.. notice the art work on the ceiling and walls. Creative indeed.

These two characters are Channabasaveshwara reading our Vachanas and Madiwala Machayya engrossed in Lingaradhane.

I did take pictures of few more Shiva Sharanas but the pictures weren't clear enough. This dead-end cave, like any other, was warm and we felt uncomfortable. We finished the tour quickly and came back to the entrance. As you see work is incomplete, work progresses with funds inflow. The project team has done a fair job.

Here are two short videos with the caretaker's commentary by Pushpa.

There ends our tour of Sharana's cave.

These are good tourist attractions.. people come and go but what they learn is also important. I think the boarding facilities should be present, nothing fancy or luxurious, just clean basic facilities, people should get an opportunity to experience the simple lifestyle of Shiva Sharanas. People who wish to stay should also be given an opportunity to do manual tasks like cook, clean, gardening, recite Vachana, meditate, etc. A two or three day stay will help relax and rejuvenate mentally and physically. Well, that's my thought, wish someone thinks alike and makes it happen.

Talking about cave temples, I would like you to see a cave temple of Amminabavi also in laterite, dug out by an ascetic in 1970s.

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