Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Yana 'caves'

Day 25 of the "virtual (digital) tour" of places known for unusual customs, practices, mysterious phenomena. This post is part of the A to Z Challenge and Blogchatter A2Z 2026

Yana lies within the forests of the Sahyadri mountain range in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.

While most caves are underground, the "caves" of Yana are actually two massive, needle-sharp black limestone monoliths that tower over the jungle floor. 

They are the 390-foot (120-metre) Bhairaveshwara Shikhara and the 300-foot (90-metre) Mohini Shikhara. 

They are composed of solid black, crystalline Karst limestone. Geologists attribute their dark colour to the presence of iron, manganese, and silica.

The rock formations.
Image courtesy: The News Minute
According to legend, the demon Bhasmasura obtained a boon from Lord Shiva that allowed him to turn anyone into ashes by placing his hand on their head. When he tried to use this power on Shiva himself, Lord Vishnu intervened by transforming into the seductive dancer, Mohini. 

She challenged Bhasmasura to a dance and tricked him into placing his hand on his own head, reducing him to a heap of ashes. Devotees believe the heat from this event was so intense it blackened the limestone formations, and they point to the loose black soil scattered around the area as the actual remains of the demon. 

Nearby, the Vibhooti Waterfalls is also named after these "sacred ashes".

Adding to the mystery are the innumerable beehives that cling to the overhanging rocks. Temple authorities and locals believe these wild bees act as guardians of the cave’s sanctity, reportedly attacking only those who disturb the serenity of the site.

(Information sources: Karnataka Tourism, Deccan Herald, The News Minute)

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8 comments:

  1. Yamini MacLeanWednesday, 29 April, 2026

    Hari OM
    ah, so Yearning for Yoni trapped the bad man! Yester Year legends are always so dramatic - but definitely entertaining and worth recording. YAM xx

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  2. Liz A.Thursday, 30 April, 2026

    There are some great stories to explain weird natural locations. That's a pretty good story.

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  3. Darla M SandsThursday, 30 April, 2026

    What stunning formations! I can see why wild bees would be attracted to this nesting spot. Thank you for sharing and be well, my dear.

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  4. LisaThursday, 30 April, 2026

    When you're up against a demon you have to get clever. I love the myth surround this impressive natural mountain.

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  5. Tomichan MatheikalThursday, 30 April, 2026

    The legends behind some places are so fascinating. I love this Mohini story.

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  6. RatnaThursday, 30 April, 2026

    Oh! Fabulous story about a fabulous I'm putting off visiting. Its fascinating how wonderful stories form around such unique natural formations. And many more such stories continue to form. Coz stories liven up our lives! Thank you for this. Will read the others in the series shortly

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  7. KPThursday, 30 April, 2026

    Thank you for the interesting post. I was not aware of its existence. Is it a much visited tourist spot?

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  8. Jo-Anne's RamblingsFriday, 01 May, 2026

    These caves sound interesting

    ReplyDelete

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