LORD SHIVA’S ABODE GUPTESHWAR MAHADEV IN THE CAVE IN WHICH HE HID OUT OF FEAR OF BHASMASUR

LORD SHIVA’S ABODE GUPTESHWAR MAHADEV IN THE CAVE IN WHICH HE HID OUT OF FEAR OF BHASMASUR

16-JULY-ENG 4

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

SASARAM----------------------------A famous religious place situated in the lap of the charming valleys of Kaimur hills, a range of Vindhya mountains under Chenari police station of the district, is also known as Gupteshwar cave temple. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and there is a natural Shivling here which is called Gupteshwar Mahadev.

An adventurous and pleasant journey in which you get everything - ups and downs of the mountain, waterfalls, rivers, forests. This journey is of Guptadham in Chenari block of Rohtas district of Bihar. Gupteshwar Mahadev temple built in Guptadham, situated in a cave on Kaimur hill, is famous as a Shaiv-Kendra Kendra. Lord Shiva is one of the Tridevs and the way to reach his abode is very difficult. Just as people reach Kedarnath and Badrinath for darshan after crossing all the difficulties, in the same way devotees reach this unique abode of Lord Shiva. Guptadham can be reached mainly through four routes. Guptadham can be reached through the forest path from Ughni Ghat, Paniyari Ghat, Pachaura Ghat and the check post built on the Durgavati Reservoir Project. The distance of the Dham from these four routes is about 12-15 kilometers.

There is no concrete evidence of how old is the cave in which Lord Shiva resides in this temple, although by looking at its structure, it cannot be guessed whether the cave is man-made or natural. According to the belief, all the wishes of the devotees are fulfilled by doing Jalabhishek on the holy Shivalinga in the cave of the temple of Gupta Dham.

Just as many people suffer from lack of oxygen during the journey to Kedarnath and Badrinath, similarly people suffer from lack of oxygen while going inside the cave of this Dham. It is said that in the year 1989, about half a dozen people died here due to lack of oxygen. But even after this, no accident of any kind happened here. Even after that, a huge crowd of devotees is seen. At present, the Guptadham Trust Board and the District Administration take care of oxygen, light, cleanliness and comfort of the devotees in the fair and police force is deployed.

After reaching the door of this holy cave situated on the hill, one has to descend the stairs. There is an 18 feet wide and 12 feet high arched door near the door. It becomes completely dark if one walks straight in the east direction. There is a very big pit after going about 363 feet inside the cave, which has water throughout the year, so it is called Patalganga. Beyond this, this cave becomes very narrow. Rare rock paintings of ancient times are still present inside the cave. In the middle of this cave, another cave breaks out in the form of a branch, which further takes the form of a room. People call this room Naach Ghar or Ghordaud. Due to lack of proper lighting, one cannot see the Naach Ghar. From here, on going west, another active branch goes towards the right. The part ahead of this is called Tulsi Chaura. From this meeting point, another cave goes a little south and goes west. In this cave, there is a Shivling named Gupteshwar Mahadev. It is situated in the cave or it is actually a natural Shivling. Water keeps dripping from the roof of the cave on it. Devotees consume this water as prasad. At the same time, about one and a half kilometers south of Gupta Dham, there is Sita Kund, whose water remains cold all the time. Bathing here is a wonderful pleasure.

According to the mythological story, once Bhasmasur was doing penance to please Bholenath. Pleased with the penance of Bhasmasur, Lord Bholenath asked him to ask for a boon. He said that whoever's head he places his hand on should turn into ashes. Lord Shiva granted him this boon.

Fascinated by the beauty of Goddess Parvati, Bhasmasur wanted to place his hand on Lord Shiva's head. Therefore, Lord Shiva had to hide in this cave to save himself from Bhasmasur. Seeing this, Lord Vishnu, taking the form of Mohini, very cleverly made Bhasmasur place his hand on his own head and reduced him to ashes.

There is an old tradition of offering Gangajal from Buxar on Shivling in historical Gupteshwar Mahadev. Especially on Shivratri and Sawan Mondays, people from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Chhattisgarh and Nepal also perform Jalabhishek here.

Let us tell you that the way to reach this cave is very difficult. This cave is located at a distance of 65 kilometers from the district headquarters Sasaram. To reach here, devotees have to cross the Durgavati river five times and cross the hill. After that, they get the good fortune of seeing Mahadev.

No one has been able to find out a secret of this cave till date. Actually, the water that always keeps dripping on the Shivling in the cave, from where does it come, it has not been known till date.

Reached Paniyari via Alampur, about 40 kilometers from Sasaram. From there, one has to climb the hill in front. There is a place of a goddess here, which people know as Paniyari Mai. Shiva devotees travel further after seeing Paniyari Mai here. On the way up, various sounds, animals and beautiful natural scenery captivate the mind. Herds of monkeys and langurs make this journey even more wonderful.

Then on the way, we come across a place called Badhwa Khoh. Further ahead, there is a temple of Hanuman ji and Durga ji where there are many small shops. Small tent-like places have been made, in which devotees rest. After walking from here, one has to cross the Durgavati river twice on the way.

It starts from here. Then after walking up and down for about 3 or 4 kilometers, the other end of the hill comes. After walking three or four kilometers from here, the cave of Baba Gupteshwar Mahadev is situated.