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Patala Bhuvaneshwar

Patal Bhuvaneshwar looks over steep green valleys to the Himalayan foothills, beyond which lies the glorious view of the snow-capped mountains from Kailash to Yamunotri. Between Gangolihat and Berinag in Pithoragarh District, the atmosphere remains pure and uncompromised from when rishis performed their tapasya over several hundreds of years ago.
The cave is such a powerful experience. The first flight of steps descends fifty-five feet vertically upon small steps cut into the solid rock formations. In many instances visitors must lie flat against the rocks to squeeze through the tight formations.

Once inside there is a wonder of amazement. The tunnels and grottos comprise an entire underground community, which obviously dates several millenium before our present era, sort of a Kishkinda for meditating sadhus. The largest of the halls can seat perhaps fifty or more meditators. Where they sat, their backsides rubbed the stones perfectly smooth, so that it is possible to find the perfect indenture to fit any size. They are extremely comfortable to sit in, and the vibrations are extremely conducive for meditation.

Legend of Patal Bhuvaneshwar

Amidst of the beautiful mountains of Uttarakhand is this village in total silence, distinctively confronting the Himalayas. In this village is a divine temple which would depict the work of Nature and give some inside truth of Hindu mythology.

The earliest references of Patal Bhuvaneshwar temple can be seen in the Manaskhand 103rd Chapter of Skandpurana. Veda Vyasa, gave an elaborate description of this auspicious cave in the realms of earth where gods and goddesses rest. It is believed that at this place Gods visit Patal to worship Lord Shiva. It is said also said that this is the only place on earth where such a large gathering of Gods. This would include a huge number of Gandharvas, Apsaras, Vidhyadharas, Yogis, Rakshasas and Nagas…. the list goes on.

The first human to discover this cave was Raja Ritupurna who was a king in Surya Dynasty who was ruling Ayodhya 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 Sheshnag who agreed to take him through the cave. It carried him on his hood. He saw the marvels of Gods taking place inside. He all the 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 Skandpurana that it will be reopened again in Kaliyuga. Shankarcharya in Kalyug, during his temporary visit to Himalayas re-discovered this cave. Since then regular worship and offering are being done at this place.

Chamber of the Main Deity

The rock configurations depict perfectly all of the deities of the Hindu Pantheon, and water drips from various sources, making streams and channels throughout. All the Gods and Goddesses are present, and even today visitors can feel the presence of the meditating rishis. Rishi Markandeya wrote the Chandi Path while sitting in this cave, and the main deity of Shiva was established and given life by Shankaracharya.

Shiva at Patal Bhuvaneshwar

Near the mouth of the cave is a howan kund, where I have performed the Chandi Yagya on several occasions. The view while sitting there looks out over the Himalayas. What a thrill to see the sunrise on the snow-capped mountains, to watch as the mountains glisten in the morning sun, how they change color. Straight ahead is Kailash, a little to the left Nanda Devi, Trishul, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. One peak is more glorious than the next, but all together the vision and ambiance inspires pure devotion.

I first visited Patal Bhuvaneshwar in 1971. At that time it was a seven mile walk from the nearest jeepable road. Now it is only a two mile walk. In 1971 I slept on the porch of the Pandit's house. Now there is a Dharmashalla and other facilities for staying. What a place to do tapasya, where since thousands of years other sadhus have been visiting to add to the spiritual vibration.

It is said that the darshan at Patal Bhuvaneshwar yields a thousand times the fruit of tapasya at Kashi, Baidyanath or Kedarnath. In the Skanda Purana, Manas Kanda, Chapter 103, there is a description of the blessings to be attained in visiting Patal Bhuvaneshwar.

where it is..?
one of the most fascinating places of the Kumaon region, is a limestone cave temple 14 km from Gangolihat in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand state in India. It is located in the village Bhubneshwar. Legend and folklore have it that this underground cave enshrines Lord Shiva and thirty three crore Gods. 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. There is a folklore that the Pandava brothers passed their time here during banishment. It is built due to the flow of water. It cut the rocks in such a fascinating way that it looks like that any artist had made those entire statues within the cave & on its wall. It has some cave opening and it is believed that these opening will be close as the centuries pass on. The scientific fact is that it's still being developed due to crystallization of the minerals which are dissolved in the water. As per belief, some doors which are now closed were opened thousand of years back. It's yet to be fully explored. It is also believed that this cave is internally connected to the four abodes /seats (Char Dham).

Mythology

According to belief King Rituparna of the Sun dynasty (Surya Vansha) discovered the cave in ‘Treta yug’. It has been described in the ‘MANAS KHAND’ of ‘SKAND PURAN’. Adi Shankaracharya visited this cave in 1191 AD. That was the beginning of the modern pilgrimage history, at Patal Bhuvaneshwar. The journey inside the cave has to be carried in feeble lights, holding protective iron chains. The Stone formations of Sheshnag can be seen, holding earth, heaven the world beneath. ‘Havan’ (fire sacrifice) is performed in a dimly lit, solemn atmosphere, under the spell of holy chants. You’ll also be impressed by theto visit these parts form the celestial heights of His abode in Kailash.The cave, it is believed, is connected by an underground route to Mount Kailash. it’s believed that Pandavas, the ‘Mahabharat’ heroes proceeded towards their last journey in the Himalayas after meditating here, in front of Lord Shiva. The priest family, the Bhandaris are performing religious rites at Patal Bhuvaneshwar since the time of the Adi Shankaracharya. More than 20 generations in the line. They are a treasure house of legends, lores, anecdotes and information about this holy place.