Fact Check: Viral Claim of 6000-Year-Old Shivling in South Africa’s Sudwala Caves is False

India is home to numerous famous Shiva temples, including the 12 Jyotirlingas, which are considered the most sacred. Several prominent Shiva temples can also be found outside India. Notable examples include the Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal, the Prambanan Temple in Indonesia, and the Katasraj Temple in Pakistan.

A video showing temple premises with a Shivling is circulating on social media with the claim that it shows a 6,000-year-old Shivling located in the Sudwala Caves in South Africa.

The caption on the post reads: “6000 years old Shiv Linga found in South Africa. This Shiv Linga was found in a mysterious cave where there were other idols too. There is no doubt that Sanatan Dharma is the most ancient religion and has been there since time immemorial. Many have tried but they could not end it. Har Har Mahadev.”

The caption in Hindi says: “*दक्षिण अफ्रीका में 6000 साल पुराना शिवलिंग मिला* यह शिवलिंग एक रहस्यमयी गुफा में मिला जहाँ अन्य मूर्तियाँ भी थीं। इसमें कोई संदेह नहीं है कि सनातन धर्म सबसे प्राचीन धर्म है और अनादि काल से चला आ रहा है। कई लोगों ने कोशिश की, लेकिन वे इसे समाप्त नहीं कर पाए। हर हर महादेव”

Other social media links sharing the same claim:

Fact Check:

The claim is False. The visuals in the viral video show Shivlings from two different temples in India, not South Africa.

Upon close examination, we identified two different Shivlings in the footage. We extracted keyframes from the video and conducted Google reverse image searches for each.

Image 1

We found the image published by an Instagram user on February 27, 2022 with the caption: ‘@Pateshwar, Satara cave temples’

Another Instagram user shared an image of what appears to be the same Shivling from the video with the caption: ‘Pateshwar Temple’

Additionally, a recently published YouTube video about the Pateshwar Temple in Satara shows the same Shivling as seen in the viral clip.

The description states: Ancient Shiva Temple: Believed to date back to the 16th century. Unique stone-carved 1000+ Shivlings scattered across the temple complex. Rare Deities: Idols of Lord Brahma, Vishnu, Mahishasurmardini, and Ashtamatruka. Features amazing black stone carvings and celestial motifs.

Image 2

When we searched for the second Shivling seen in the viral video, reverse image results confirmed it is from Aazhimala Siva Temple in Adimalathura, Kottukal, Kerala.

The Sudwala Caves are the oldest known caves in the world, believed to have formed around 240 million years ago. They are renowned for awe-inspiring natural formations such as towering stalactites, intricate stalagmites, and mesmerizing flowstone structures — all sculpted over millions of years by geological forces. These formations reveal the Earth’s ancient past, showcasing nature’s ability to craft breathtaking subterranean landscapes. Different rock formations inside the caves can be seen on their official website:

The claim has been circulating online since 2018 and has been repeatedly debunked by several fact-checking organisations.

The viral video does not show a Shivling in the Sudwala Caves in South Africa. Both Shivlings seen in the clip belong to temples in India — the Pateshwar Temple in Maharashtra and the Aazhimala Siva Temple in Kerala. The claim is False.