GUPTADHAM: SHIVDHAM FULL OF NATURAL BEAUTY, FAITH AND MYSETRIES

GUPTADHAM: SHIVDHAM FULL OF NATURAL BEAUTY, FAITH AND MYSETRIES

16-JULY-ENG 8

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

SASARAM----------------------------Guptadham: Shivdham full of natural beauty, faith and mysteries, where crowds of devotees throng Rohtas. About 65 km south of the district headquarters Sasaram and about 15 km from Paniyari Ghat of Chenari block, nestled in the lap of nature, there is a wonderful cave located on the Kaimur hill of the Vindhya mountain range, which is known as Guptadham. There is no concrete evidence regarding the antiquity of this cave. By looking at its structure, it cannot be guessed whether it is man-made or natural. The Gupteshwar Mahadev temple built in Guptadham is famous as a Shaiv-center. The mythological belief of this cave is that to please Devadhidev Mahadev, the mighty Maharakshas Bhasmasur did severe penance and forced him to give a boon. Mahadev asked Bhasmasur to ask for a boon, then he asked for a boon that whoever's head he puts his hand on should turn into ashes. Mahadev said - So be it. Thereafter, Bhasmasur, fascinated by the beauty of Goddess Parvati, wanted to put his hand on Mahadev's head. Frightened by this, Mahadev hid and took refuge in this cave. However, seeing all this, Lord Vishnu took the form of Mohini and cleverly made Bhasmasur put his hand on his own head and reduced him to ashes.

To reach Gupteshwar Dham, one can go from Ughani Ghat, Paniyari Ghat and Pachaura Ghat of Chenari block. The distance of the Dham from these three ghats is about 10-15 kilometers. There is an arched door 18 feet wide and 12 feet high near the entrance of the cave. About three hundred feet inside the cave, there is a very big pit, which remains filled with water throughout the year, which is known as "Patalganga". Inside the cave, water keeps dripping from the roof of the cave on the Shivling. Till date, the secret of dripping water has not been known, that where does this water come from. There is a waterfall about one and a half kilometer south of Guptadham, which is known as "Sita-Kund", whose water is always cool. Devotees consider themselves blessed by bathing in this pond. Bathing here has its own pleasure. In the month of Sawan and Vasant Panchami, devotees fill the holy water of Ganga from Buxar in Kanwar and perform Jalabhishek on the Shivalinga. Apart from Bihar, devotees also come here in large numbers from Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand for Jalabhishek and darshan. Although there is not enough light and oxygen inside the Dharamshala, toilet and cave. During the fair, the district administration seems serious about it, yet many problems are seen here. Guptadham Vikas Committee makes every possible effort that the visiting devotees do not face any problem. Still, there are many types of problems due to no special facility being provided by the government, this cannot be denied. If the government contributes properly in the development of this Dham, then lakhs of rupees of revenue can be obtained from here. This Dham is full of natural beauty. Its picturesque view can definitely be seen once. It looks no less than Kedarnath.