Gorgeous Grottos

 The very word "grotto" or, for that matter, its workaday, rather prosaic, synonym, that is, "cave", somehow sounds special. Immediately are we reminded of  distant mountains wherein reside rishis and munis. Equally possibly, we may visualise wild beasts such as lions, tigers, bears, and probably, the yeti. There could at times be a dark hint of a haunting, right? Oh, yes, sure, often is there a connection with art forms. No wonder, literary texts often abound with these unique structures.

Beyond the pages of a novel (as in  the "Passage to India") or the stanzas of a poem (as in the much anthologised "La belle dame sans merci"), real caves are gorgeous, too. As Pune citizens, sure our parents, or was it a school trip, took us to Karle-Bhaje, the famous Buddhist caves beyond Talegaon, which do not make one feel bitter (like bitter gourd, "karle" in Marathi ), instead make us enjoy (like "bhaje", the tastiest savouries, as in Marathi).

We all Maharashtrians are absolutely proud of the Ajanta-Ellora caves which are simply unbelievable. We feel that bowing down to those anonymous artists who could create such stone sculptures is the only reaction possible when we visit these wondrous caves. Equally unique are the mysterious Bhimbetka caves with their prehistoric art forms. Time itself seems to have frozen in that enigmatic site.

Have you heard of the Fingal caves in Scotland wherein the rushing sea waves have carved a structure whose look and acoustics resemble a concert hall or an opera house? When Mendelssohn visited it, so impressed was he that he composed a famous concerto celebrating it.

Unbelievably beautiful, too, is the Blue Grotto near the Capri Islands in Italy. So small is the opening of this cave that you have to lie flat in the smallish dungee. Once you enter it though, the sea water and sunshine create a magical paradise painted in various shades of blue. The very thought of that image is divine, right?

Well, all caves need not be that romantic. Remember the Mariana Trench in the infinite Atlantic Ocean, and that deep, deep, deep underwater Challenger Deep that claimed six richie rich lives in June 2023 when their submersible imploded under water? Well, man may think he can ride like (and in) a 'titan'. Nature is a far more majestic super-power!

Pratima@Most such cave accidents happen because over-enthusiastic people do not follow rules, are not disciplined, and completely ignore well-meaning warnings. The Titan occupants were cautioned against such an adventure. In the Blue Grotto, too, it is prohibited to swim. People hide in it till the evening as entries are not then allowed. When they thus try to swim, the sea currents, whether the tide is high or low, result in mishaps! It seems, such man-made tragic errors are humanly unavoidable, whether it be the U.S. or Italy, or our very own Kumbh Mela!!!