Discover Rishikesh to Vashishta Gufa Distance and Best Timing

Vashishta Cave (Vashisht Gufa) is located about 22 kilometers from Rishikesh. Many saints and sages can still be seen resting and meditating around this cave. Inside the cave, there is also a Shivalinga. It is said that earlier the cave extended further inside, but now it has been closed from the deeper end.

Vashishta Cave (Vashisht Cave)

The Vashishta Cave in Rishikesh is quite well known. Its history is believed to be around 3,000 years old. The cave is often referred to as a mysterious cave. According to local belief, the spirit of Sage Vashishta, the guru of Lord Rama, still wanders here. Because of this, people are often afraid to go near the cave after evening.

Rishikesh, situated in Uttarakhand, is a sacred pilgrimage site. It is famous in the country and abroad because of its yoga and meditation. It is believed that many sages and saints had done severe penance here.

Rishikesh to Vashishta Gufa Distance

At the same time, about 22 kilometers away from Rishikesh, you can find this  ancient cave which is also a popular for  for peace and meditation. Tourists are  coming to Rishikesh reach here for meditation and yoga on the beach of Ganges river bank.
This cave is known by the name of the great sage Vashishtha. At the same time, Swami Purushottamananda had also done penance here. Vashishtha Cave is an ancient cave, situated in solitude about 22 kilometers from Rishikesh.

History of  Vashishtha Cave

According to the information received from its office, this cave is related to sage Vashishtha. Sage Vashishtha, the guru of Lord Rama, had performed penance here. This cave is known by his name. In 1930, Swami Purushottamananda decided to look after this ashram and also this cave, therefore its management is done by Swami Purushottamananda Society.

This holy place has now become Vashishtha Yoga Ashram, where all people, away from the crowd and noise of Rishikesh, come for meditation and peace. Vashishtha Cave is located in solitude on the banks of the holy river Ganga.

Vashishtha Cave Timings 

This cave remains open for tourists from 8 in the morning till 1 in the afternoon, and after that from 3 in the afternoon till 6 in the evening.

Arundhati Cave

Inside the cave, tourists sit for meditation, therefore making noise and taking photos is prohibited here. Near this cave itself, there is a cave in the name of sage Vashishtha’s wife Arundhati, which all people call Arundhati Cave, and it is also quite famous.

Karen Dabrowska, who came from London  to visit Rishikesh, tells that she liked the Vashishtha Cave very much.
Sitting inside the cave, she did meditation for some time, due to the energy of the cave  her mind became completely peaceful.
She tells that this place is completely quiet, away from the noise of Rishikesh, and everyone must come here once.

Who is Maharshi Vashistha?

The Maharshi Vashistha was the greates sage among all ancient sages, He was chosen/preceptor (spiritual guide)  of Lord Rama, He was established his highest position of the sage tradition, as a Brahmarshi.

Maharshi Vashistha’s divine presence is shining from Vedas to Ramayana and Mahabharata, and later Puranic literature. He is foremost among the Saptarishis (seven sages), and is the presiding sage of the entire seventh Mandala of the Rigveda. In the sage tradition of ancient India, he is known as Maharshi Vashistha.

According to some scholars of Puranic literature, in reference to the long-lasting presence of Maharishi Vashistha, there is also an opinion that the descendants of Brahma’s son Vashistha were also later known by the same name. In this way, “Vashistha” was not just a single person but became a title, and in different eras, several renowned sages were called Vashistha.

The very first Vashistha had two wives: Arundhati, the daughter of Sage Kardama, and Urja, the daughter of Prajapati Daksha. In this way, the original Vashistha was the brother-in-law of Lord Shiva, who had married another daughter of Daksha, Goddess Sati.

After this Adi Vashistha, the second was known during the time of King Trishanku of the Ikshvaku dynasty, who was called Vashistha Devaraja. The third lived during the reign of Kartavirya Sahasrabahu and was known as Vashistha Apava. The fourth appeared during the time of King Bahu of Ayodhya, who was called Vashistha Atharvanidhi (the first).

The fifth appeared during the reign of King Saudasa or Sudasa (Kalmasapada) and was called Vashistha Shreshthabhaja. The sixth was present during the reign of King Dilipa and was called Vashistha Atharvanidhi (the second). After them, the seventh was the one who lived during Lord Rama’s era, commonly referred to as Maharishi Vashistha.

The eighth was present during the Mahabharata period, whose son’s name was Shakti. Apart from these, Vashistha Maitrevaruni, Vashistha Shakti, Vashistha Suvarchas, and in total twelve Vashisthas are mentioned in the Puranas. Complete details of the Vashisthas can be found in the Vayu Purana, Brahmanda Purana, and Linga Purana, while the lineage of the Vashistha sages and Gotra founders is recorded in the Matsya Purana.

Rivalry with Vishwamitra

It does not seem possible that the rivalry with Vishwamitra refers to one particular Vashistha, but it is certain that there was one historical Vashistha, which becomes evident from a hymn in the seventh Mandala of the Rigveda, where he assisted Sudas against the ten kings.

One of the most significant events of this early Vashistha’s life was his rivalry with Maharishi Vishwamitra. Though the Rigveda does not provide details of their conflict, evidence of hostility between Vashistha’s son Shakti and Vishwamitra is found there.

Vishwamitra, who had acquired great eloquence, instigated Sudas’s servants to kill Shakti. A brief mention of this incident is found in the Taittiriya Samhita.

The Panchavimsha Brahmana also refers to the killing of Vashistha’s son and Vishwamitra’s victory over the Saudasa clan. Numerous references to Vashistha as a Vedic sage are found in the Sutras, Ramayana, and Mahabharata, where the conflict between Vashistha and Vishwamitra is described.

According to the stories, when Vishwamitra was still a king, he once visited Vashistha’s ashram and became enamored with the divine cow Kamadhenu. Out of greed for the cow, he fought with Vashistha.

In that battle, Brahmabal (spiritual power) proved stronger than Bahubal (physical might), leading Vishwamitra to renounce his throne and become a great ascetic.

This Vedic-age rivalry eventually transformed into friendship during the Ramayana period. In the Ramayana story, when Vishwamitra came to King Dasharatha to request Rama and Lakshmana for the protection of his yajna, it was at Vashistha’s persuasion that Dasharatha consented to send his sons along.

Visit the Ancient Temples of Rishikesh

Rishikesh is also known for its ancient temples. Several old temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, such as Veerbhadra Mahadev Temple, Chandreshwar Mahadev Temple, and Someshwar Mahadev Temple, are located here. All of these temples hold great mythological and religious significance.

The importance of these temples has been described in ancient scriptures. In addition, Rishikesh is home to the Hrishikesh Narayan Temple, dedicated to Lord Bharat, who is worshipped as the village deity of Rishikesh.

At the Shri Bharat Temple, an ancient idol of Lord Vishnu made from black Shaligram stone is enshrined. During one period, foreign invaders damaged this temple, after which Adi Guru Shankaracharya restored it in the 12th century. On the temple’s spire, a sacred Sri Yantra is also inscribed.

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