A timeless allure
The pilgrimage to Gupteswar Temple itself is a step back in time. A scenic path unfolds like a welcoming invitation. Gupteswar cave is accessed by 200 steps that have now been carved out from the bottom of the hill. The sweet smell of champaka trees fill the air as you reach the entrance of the cave which is about 9.5 feet wide and 6.5 feet high. The perennial flow of water over the limestone deposits over years has created stunning breath-taking structures of stalactites and stalagmites.
The Shiva Linga is at a height of 3 feet with a circumference of 10 feet. There is a large stalactite inside the second cave that is revered as the udder of Kamadhenu. People wait for long periods of time to collect drops of water that fall from the udder that is accepted with devotion as milk of the Divine Cow.
An epic discovery and enduring legacy
Tradition murmurs tale of Lord Rama himself discovering the Linga during his exile in the Dandakaranya forest. The renowned poet Kalidas, in his epic Meghadutam, even alluded to the captivating beauty of the Ramgiri forest, where the cave temple is believed to reside. However, time shrouded the cave in secrecy once more. It wasn't until the 17th century, when a fortuitous encounter led a hunter to reveal the cave to Maharajah Veer Vikram Dev, that Gupteshwar Cave was rediscovered. Deeply moved by the Linga's grandeur, the king appointed priests and initiated a tradition that continues to this day – a foot pilgrimage during the holy month of Shraavana.
