Bear Caves - Jambavanth ki Gufa

 A tree- strong and silent, bare without its leaves, silhouettes the entrance of Jambavan Caves, Gujarat. This ‘tree of life’, native to Africa, is the Baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) revered for its umpteen features such as holding water, providing food and shelter to animals and humans. The tree is known for its long life, it grows huge, length and breadth-wise. 

There are handful of Baobab trees in India (maybe 10 or a few more and sparsely spread in different States). One of the more “known” Baobab tree is at Golconda fort, Hyderabad, which is said to have hosted soldiers in its trunk, such is its girth. The tree is as scared to the Africans as Ficus religiosa (commonly known as Arali (ಅರಳಿ)) is to us. 

The presence of this tree at the entrance of the Jambavan Caves is as mysterious as the existence of the caves at this location. Though there is greenery around, it is said that this is Acacia forest area which is difficult to believe. Either way, Baobab does not belong to Acacia family. So it begs the question -how did this tree come about here!!

There is one more tree, with small leaves, not so rare (don’t know the name and no I have not installed plant identifier App), that also holds onlookers' attention and it is below this tree that the underground Guha is located. The tree of life is almost like a pointer to this area!! 

A man sits underneath this tree and if you are a first-time visitor to the caves, you are bound to listen to his version of the well- known Krishna- Jambavanth story. He puts it in simple words.

The story: 

Legend has it that King Satrajit, of Yadava dynasty, owned a rare gemstone with mystic power- Shamantaka mani (ಶ್ಯಾಮಂತಕ ಮಣಿ) given by the Sun God.  This gem was worn by his brother Prasena when he went to hunt at the forest. A lion attacks him and takes the gem and the lion was killed by a bear Jambuvanth. 

Satrajit, peeved at losing his brother and the gemstone, suspects and accuses Krishna of killing Prasena to get the gem, as he (Satrajit) had not obeyed Krishna’s earlier suggestion that the gem be given to Ugrasena, the King of Mathura. To clear the false allegation, Krishna goes in search of the mani (ಮಣಿ) and finds it with Jambavanth in this very cave, as per the narrator of the story- in this case, the man sitting under the tree. 

Jambavanth refuses to part with the Shamanthaka mani, a fight ensues and lasts for 28 days after, in this very cave, which Jambavanth surrenders to Krishna and gives him the gem and his daughter Jambavanti in marriage. It is in this cave that the marriage is said to have taken place. 

A huge photo of Jambavanth doing kanyadhan ( giving away the bride) to Krishna is hung at one end of the cave, reiterating the mythology. The Gufa (cave) is revered because of these incidence/s and it is said that the exact spot (of marriage) has been identified by the historians. 

To reach this spot, you have to walk down the narrow spiraling steps that opens up to a vast underground Gufa. There is no separate exit. 

The Gufa:

The Gufa showcase limestone formation that immediately catches one’s eyes. The cave is lit up completely and showcase a simple network of chambers and pathways. There are many Shivalingas formed naturally that are spread over in the cave, as many as 50, they say. Water drops trickle down from the ceiling on to the Shivalingas continuously presents an interesting spectacle. There is natural light coming in through a space/hole in the roof which adds to the mystery of the place. There is also light -modern lighting that There are two tunnels inside the cave, it is said that one leads to Dwaraka and the other to Junagadh.

The caves are worth visiting, if you are enroute to Dwaraka. It provides for oodles of peace and tranquility. 

Myth or Reality?

Jambuvanth ki Gufa located in Ranavav village, Gujarat are not as well- known as the Ajantha Elora ones or the ones in Badami in Karnataka. It is of late that the visitors to Porabandar, Gandhiji's birth place and pilgrims to Dwaraka are stopping by at this place. The merit to this place comes from the fable which makes the cave sacrosanct; a distinction that many of the “other” caves cannot boast of.  

After my visit to the caves, I thought of sharing a few lines and a few photos, as was suggested by family and friends due to its anonymity. When I started writing, I was stuck by the similarity of another set of caves located in Jammu, also called Jambavanth Ki Gufa. It is popularly known as Peer Kho, Kho means cave in the local dialect. This cave also is said to connect to other places/caves including the much famed and visited Amarnath cave. And what more, this cave is said to be the one where Jamabavanth and Krishna fought, and Krishna married Jambavathi!. One version says that that Peer Kho is a place where Jamabavanth meditated. The other versions add fight and romance to it by saying that Jamabavanth and Krishna fought and Krishna got married to Jamabavanthi. 

By looking at it from a purely geographical perspective, is seems that the caves in Gujrat are more likely to be the place of the Jambavanth- Krishna meeting because of its proximity to Dwarka, where Krishna lived. Be that as it may, what is interesting to note is that mythology is woven into the everyday lives, being a constant reminder of the path in which we have come and evolved?

The mystery of the Jambavanth should always interest us - for it points to a possibility of a tribe of talking, walking on two feet, negotiating bears, or were they just hirsute humans (having much hair on their skin, which made them look bear like?). Either way, it could lead us to more interesting paths of research into our past, which might give us insights into the future.