Koilighugar waterfall of Jharsuguda & ancient seyabapeeth – shri Maheswarnath

Mineral and Craft rich Jharsuguda district of Modern Odisha has the most beautiful tourist place named "Koilighugar Waterfall”. This naturalistic waterfall is located 55 km away from Jharsuguda district in Lakhanpur block near the Gobindhpur forest area. It is situated near State Highway 49 and 7 km away from Govindpur Chowk. Since ancient times, Shri Maheshwar Nath has been worshipped by devotees. A rivulet named ‘Ahiraj’ takes origin from the ‘Chhuikhanch’ forest and while flowing through its rocky belt fall from a height of 40 ft. Originating the waterfall of Koilighugar.

Shivalinga has Submerged inside the waterfall. If somebody tries to see it from inside the water in winter and summer, the shiva linga is visible under the reflected sunlight. Another Shiva linga has created outside the waterfall for devotees and tourists who want to worship and visit. Devotees and tourists have been worshipping shiva linga as Maheshwar nath in the new temple. Koilighugar waterfall has originated from the Ahiraja river which formed by amalgamation of both Bhramani and koili channels.

Koiligugur is one of the religious and tourist spots in Odisha. Koilighugar is an important tourist spot, its natural beauty is simply amazing. The natural beauty of the verdant forest, the sound of water flowing through the hillside attracts tourists to this place. This is the reason that visitors come to this place all of year. Earlier wild animals lived near this place, but they never harmed any people. They all drink water from one place which is known as "shanti Kunda".Sound of the waterfall is clearly audible from 1 kilometres distance. Waterfall from 40ft makes this waterfall one of the most beautiful waterfall in Odisha.

In 1942, a saint named "Soham Swamy" was staying here and he continued to live here for the beauty of this place, and later he established an ashram (cottage) here. At present, 30-40 saints reside in his ashram. Daimini mountain is located toward Northeast side of the waterfall where Daimini saint had practised meditation.

 Many pilgrims from different parts of India take a bath in the waterfall and offer worship to Shri Maheshwar Nath Ji. Delectable and natural surroundings, create consciousness and deep belief in God in heart of people. To get rid of all the suffering and social obstacles in the world, many devotees here; receive initiation from the saint.

Geographical area

About  5 km  away from koilighughar waterfall Rohini, Barbahali etc. are small villages present on the North side whereas Chuikhanch, Debadarah area covered by deep forest  environment in South direction. Similarly, Jandora, Jhargaa,Kuremal and Samarbaga villages are situated on West flank whereas kutrapali and Keserjima are small villages present on  East side of Waterfall. Amid of calm, cool and lovely ambience, Shri Maheshwar Nath holy peeth(Religious destination) is established.

                ( Temple of God Maheswarnath )

Nomenclature

 Due to producing sound like a Cuckoo bird during rainy season, it has been named Koilighugar. After the waterfall originated, the rivulet flows westwards to merge into the Mahanadi river.  Ahiraj river producing sound like a Ahiraj (king Kobra) snake by rise up and flatten its head into a "hood." That why ,this river called as Ahiraj.

                   (Koilighughar Waterfall )

History

There is a legend story behind emergence of Shri Maheshwar Nath   get heard from  people. Koilighugar waterfall area was spreading toward Western side about 30 km away from Himgir jamindar (landowner) of Sundargarh district. It’s a story of many years ago. Chandan Singh was the jamindar of Himgir. He was supreme devotee of Lord Shiva. His capital was in Himgiri Gaad. Chandan Singh used to take bath in a pond called "sagar sansar" every day which was located on foot land of gadasuta (tango) mountain. After bathing, Chandan Singh used to worship Shivlinga in a small temple near the pond. Many year passed just like this, jamindar Chandan Singh's mind had changed. He spent most of his time on Luxury items and forgot to visit  and worship Shivalinga. His wife was very worried and distressed due to not having a Shiva devotee like before. Temple established by Chandan shing remain abandoned because of lack of worship. Because of which the temple gradually started to break. Shivalinga in small temple near pond became uprooted by overflow of water during rainy season and started floating in Ahiraj River. However, Shivalinga did not go away in water flow and stuck in the waterfall. At that time , tribe of bhuiya caste family was living in chukhanch forest  adjacent to Koilighugar waterfall.

Head  of this family was a women named "Biraja dai".They had collected the bamboo from the forest and was Making kula, pachia and dala  (things made up of bamboo) by using bamboo and sold it in near villages for daily living. Apart from this, they used to catch fish with help of net in the waterfall. One day, Lord Maheswar Nath came in dream of Biraja dai and forbade to catch fish from Waterfall. But, Biraja did not pay attention to dream and decided to catch fish from the waterfall. Biraja dai and her husband by holding Axe, arrow and bow and fishing net went to that area of Waterfall where shivalinga stuck.

In order to catch lot of fish from the river, Biraja dai and Her husband went together to waterfall. When they passing through that Shivalinga area, got stumble. Biraja dai  startled and  saw shivalinga in front of her. She remembered the dream already seen. When Biraja dai foot felt  down on shivalinga , she felt guilty herself and started striking her head again stone frequently. She prayed for forgiveness by adding her both hands. After this, both Husband and Wife returned to the house. They went to residence of Ratan shing who was Zamindar of Kodabaga.  they gave complete information about appearance of Shivaling in Koilighugar waterfall. Listening to biraja dai views, zamindar was distraught to visit Shivalinga. Ratan Singh came to the Koilighugar Waterfall with worship materials in a procession with the people. This establishment festival was celebrated for 7 days as a Shivaratri fair. In this holy fair, many devotees gave their contribution.

Shivalinga was reestablished with proper Worship ritual, homm, jagya canonically. Ratna shing gave charge of worship to bhuiya family. Since then, a person of biraja dai family is engaged in worshipping Shri Mahesh Nath. Descendent of birajdai has been appointed for worship of shivling. A saint named "soham swami" had established Hermitage in this shrine.

This koilighugar waterfall became popular by Lord Maheshwar nath. Sri Maheswar Nath was not under control of Kodabaga,Rampur and Himgir jamindar during British government and A complete control-free zone was announced. Many tourists and travellers come to the koilighugar water to enjoy natural beauty.

Development

State Government has approved koilighugar as a tourist center. Concrete road  has been built here for travelers and tourists transport .Three traveler residences have built for pilgrims and visitors and one jagya mandap (pavilion) is created near the waterfall. Apart from this, sufficient stairs have been made  for  worship of Shri Mahesh Nath, situated in the lower part of the waterfall. This area is connected with Electricity. There is also a Vishnu temple here.

Special Attraction

There are many school and college students and young people coming here for picnic in winter. Various types of fish are found in the Ahiraj river to which tourists offer food. On the upper side of the waterfall, we can see different types of fish. Fishing is not allowed here. When the tourists put food into the water, the fish comes to the water surface; This is eye-catching view.

 

Many different types of bird come here from far away. Tourist gets enjoy by watching them. Monkey, deer and wild animals are roaming fearlessly around the koilighugar forest area. its excellent natural beauty and incomparable forest attract tourists every year. people come from different parts of Odisha and Chhattisgarh state for the picnic from November to March month.

Festival& worship

 Thousand of “Bool bomb” devotees come here to offer holy water to Shivalinga in Shaaravan (July-Agust) month. In kaartik (October-November)month ,Rasalila Mahotsav (festival) is held in the premises of the temple every year. Sri Mahalaxmi puja is observed every year In outskirts of Shiva peeth. There are thousand of devotees around villages during Laxmi puja. Atmagita jayanti and Santi kutira Meela (fair) organised in Hermitage of  Soham swami sanit . Three days of Shiva Ratri fair being observed with Grand pump and style.

How to reach

You can choose your own vehicle to visit this spot. If you reach Belpahar and head straight towards National Highway 200. You will reach Gobindpur which is around  20 km from Belpahar. Then you have to take a right turn from Govindpur Chowk . A 6 km drive from there through thick sal and mahua forests will take one to Koilighugar Waterfall.

If you want to reach this waterfall by public transport, there are two options for you either by train or Bus.

You easily get bus from Jharsuguda bus station. Get down at Gobindhpur chowk and book  a auto to reach koilighughar.

You get 6-7 trains from jharsuguda railway station to reach Belpahar, trains are available 2 hours interval to reach belpahar, from there you have to book auto to reach koilighughar waterfall.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Writer :- Rohit Kumar Lohara
       ( Purunabasti, Jharsuguda )

Reference :- Govind Chandra Tripathy
 (Parchina seybapitha - Sri maheswarnath)
 Belpahad uchhab 2016 (machan)
  (Purunabasti, Jharsuguda)