The Gupteshwar temple in Koraput district of Odisha is very famous. However, there is another Gupteshwar pitha in the State that houses many divine miracles. Situated in Cuttack district, this little known Gupteshwar pitha is famous because not only trifoliate bel leaves, but stalks of rare four- bel leaves, 5 bel leaves and more can be found here which bears most divine values. Even seldom devotees get bel stalks with as many as 21 leaves.
This unique religious place is located in the Kusapal village in Kambilo Panchayat in Badamba block of Cuttack district. While dense forest is seen here, the place houses hundreds of bel trees which is a rare affair.
Another miracle about this place is that people take bel seedlings from here and plant at their places, but only trifoliate bel stalks grow in those plants.
Again, hundreds of snakes are seen here which is also believed as a point towards presence of Lord Shiva in the area. And it is also said that these snakes don’t harm humans.
It is said that seldom even pack of 21 bel leaves are also found. Once such stalks are found it is sent to Kapilas or other famous Lord Shiva shrines.
The calm and quite atmosphere of this area will make you to forget about the stressful life, the locals say. There is also an ashram here. The baba takes care of the daily worship in the shrine.
Devotees visit this place across the year to get a glimpse of the rare bel leaves. Every year during Shivarathri and on full moon days and during the yagnya time, devotees crowd this place. Besides, the place gets crowded on every Monday.
How to visit? Reach Badamba from Cuttack. Gopapur haat is 5 km away from Badamba. To reach the said Gupteshwar pitha one needs to visit Gopapur haat from Badamba and then travel about 6 to 8 km from the chowk on the south side of the Gopapur haat to reach the Gupteshwar pitha and Beleswar pitha.
Devotees believe that every wish gets fulfilled here by the grace of Lord Gupteshwar. As per the locals the bel trees remained here since long secretly. These divine trees were discovered when a devotee from the nearby village first witnessed it and intimated to others.
The Baba of the Ashram takes care of the daily rituals of the shrine. He says that divine power of Lord Shiva and Bana Durga has manifested here.
As per the locals such rare and religiously precious bel leaves are found only here in the whole county.
The locals have demanded that though lots of devotees visit this place across the year, due to lack of proper communication facility, this tourist spot gets less number of visitors. Hence communication facility to the place should be developed. Besides, arrangement should be made for drinking water. And a temple for Lord Gupteshwar should be constructed.
Ms Kalinga