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PLACES
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JAMBRUG
Jambrug (Khalapur peta; p. 570; RS. Kelvali; 2 m.) has a small
cave in the north face of Beran or Nath Patar, the spur up on which the Bor incline passes. It is now dedicated to Gambhirnath.
From Jambrug, a hill path leads to a rough rocky ledge, backed by an overhanging scarp, which is hollowed into a cave whose sloping roof seems to be partly natural. The terrace in front of the cave looks down a deep glen with rocky side ridges and upper grass slopes springled with trees. Further down stretches a plateau with large trees and open glades of white or light green; below the plateau lies a deep-green forest, brightened by the sear leaves of the wild plantain, and some yellow pahirs, savars, and khandols [Pahir Ficus Cordifolia, Savar Bombax Malabaricum, Khandul Stirulia Urens.] Onwards the valley opens into rice lands, with a sprinkling of trees, and fringed by grassy uplands which rise into the Dapne spur, with the higher ranges of Matheran, Prabal, and False Funnel behind.
On the left side of the cave leaning against the back wall, are two shelves holding a number of small gods very rudely cut and smeared with redlead
[The details are, on the lower shelf most to the left, a small rough stone
elephant about three inches high, a stone conch, a ling, two footprints,
a broken lion and a bull six inches long by three high. On the upper shelf, on
the left, are a foot high Ganapati, and two footprints, and a small Gambhirnath.]. Through a break in the left wall is a rock-cut cistern which holds rain water throughout the year and provides the visitors with supply of good water. Along the right wall is a rough wooden bench, and, near it, the small stone tomb -of some former ascetic. On a shelf, against the back wall, are the vessels used in the worship of the god
[These are, in an incense, salver dhuparti, a small platter on the
top of a pillar also for incense, a brass bell, and a few dishes.] and a small lamp-stand of stone. In the centre of the back wall is a hole one foot eight inches high and one foot four inches broad. This forms the entrance to a second rock-cut chamber of an irregular shape about twelve and a half feet at the broadest and about five feet high. In the back wall of this second cave, an opening, one foot square, leads into the shrine of the god Gambhirnath six feet broad, seven and a half long, and three feet four inches high. At the back is the image of the god, a rough human bust with two hands, cut in the same stone as the rock and about nine inches high. A thakur from a nearby village looks after the cave and burns a lamp every Sunday in front of the image of god Gambhirnath. He accompanies the pilgrims and guides them to the cave and in turn receives some gifts. According to the local story, Gambhirnath's real shrine is on the top of Dhak hill about six miles to the northeast. But, as the Dhak shrine could be reached only by a ladder, a new image was made about ten generations ago and set up in the present cave. On Sundays villagers come to worship. Gambhirnath has two great yearly festivals on Bhadrapad full-moon (August-September) and at Dasara (September-October).
On the way back, to the right of the top of the steps, cut in the rock, is a rough life-like bas-relief of a kanphati Gosavi playing the violin, vina. The bas-relief is about four feet high and has bracelets, earrings, arid necklace, and a tiara-like head-dress, and is supposed to watch an image of Bhairoba which is cut in a recess in the rock.
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