Amidst the diverse touristic attractions in Jharsuguda, Guja Pahar is familiar as ‘paradise of Jharsuguda' for its splendid natural beauty. The artistic view of the blue waters of the Hirakud Reservoir positioned at the astern of the hill enchants tourists. Buddhist Caves of the Guja hill is a tantra meditation site. Scene of forested hills sprinkled all over Water Reservoir are adorable. Thousands of pilgrims flock to the 'Magha Purnima' and 'Ashadha Purnima' fairs to relish the outstanding natural beauty of the hill. The improbable deed of various supernatural monks at different points in times has fascinated everyone to the Guja hill. The historic site is sited close by the Barangamal village which is about 50 km from the Jharsuguda Headquarters.
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| ( Natural beauty of water reservoir ) |
Guja Pahar
The historic hill is located in the adjoining area of Barangamal village under Tilia gram panchayat. There are 18 small and large caves in the Guja hill, the largest of which is 150 feet above the foothill. The entrance to the cave is situated on the north side of the hill and the cave gives birth to two paths after five meters distance. The first route extends to the interior, while the other route extends south to the hills. There are 14 stone steps to the east of the base of the Guja hill.
However, the large cave was utilized as a place of worship. About 500 devotees could gather in the shrine. Stone sculpture goddesses are established in the cave, while unconcluded ‘Habagriba’ statues and stone carved of Buddhist deities enunciated on the enclosure of caves.
Many ancient pottery and clay lamps wielded by saints have been noticed scattered around the floor of ancient Buddhist cave. The wood ash used up as fuel in 'Kitchen' and 'Havan Kund' is infested in the premises of another cave.
Besides, on the floor of another cave, various animals and human bones have been reduced to ashes. The Buddhist cave in the Guja hills was once the meditation site of Sambal king Indrabhuti. From the above description, it is concluded that Many saints resided in Guja hill's Cave. Local villagers revealed they have heard khanjani hymns on the night of 'Chaturdashi' and 'Sankranti' from the Guja hill.
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| ( Road to Guja pahar) |
History
According to the narration of Greek tourist Ptolemy, Sambal empire was placed in the Mahanadi river and its tributaries, the Irabati basin, which flows through the Koshal section of Odisha. The boundaries of the then sambal province extended from Ambabana under Bargarh district to Bandhabahal in Jharsuguda district. King Indrabhuti of Sambal kingdom spread Buddhism widely in the fifth century AD. Later, King Acharya Indrabhuti of the Sambalpur Empire meditated in the caves of the Guja hill on the outskirts of his capital in the seventh century. Many of the king's practitioners and demos of the kingdom devoted in the Buddhist caves. At that point in time, small streams of water flowed from the top to the bottom of the hill. The inmates of the cave were collecting water from the stream for drinking and bathing purpose.
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| ( Buddhist cave ) |
Festival
Magha Purnima
Every year in the month of Magha, the World Peace Brahma Havan is solemnized at the ‘Siddha Baba Ashram' sited at the foot of the Guja Hills. As per tradition, Havan commences on the thirteenth day and ends on the full moon day of the march.
On the first day of the festival, women and girls along with saints fetch holy water from a nigh pond and established in the Monastery. Men and women of the Aryan community perform Vedic Havan on the morning of the 14th.
On the occasion of celebrations, people put 'purnahuti' and 'Ghrutahuti' for world peace and welfare. Not only Prasad food served but also Akhanda deep (lamp ) lit on the full moon night. Many devotees attend the Havan Mandapa to celebrate the festival.
Many devotees from different districts of western Odisha and the neighboring state of Odisha gather in fair. Drinking water and security provided by industry by the police administration respectively.
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| ( Sidha Baba Temple ) |
Asadha Purnima
Buddhists celebrate the 'Asadha Purnima' on the birth anniversary of Buddhism founder Mahatma Gautam Buddha. Therefore, the Buddhist king of the Sambal empire had been organized ' Asadha Purnima ' at the base of the Guja hills near his capital. A week-long ‘Ramya Mela’ was observed next to the Guja hills during the Asadha purnima. Hundreds of folk from neighboring villages infested to the fair. Meanwhile, a small village named 'Ramya Mela' was established at the foot of the Guja hill.
The Ramyamela Pali mispronounced over time and became 'Ramela'. The Ramela village was submerged due to the construction of the Hirakud Reservoir, and the ‘Asadha Purnima ' fair inducted to be commemorated on the Guja hills.
Buddhism disappeared from the Sambal Empire when people from all over India gradually lost their faith in Buddhism in the ninth century. As a result, the Buddhist tradition of Asadha Utsav was abolished and Hinduism had been gradually observed in accordance with the traditional ritual.
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| ( Scenery from hill ) |
Legend story
Many legends have been heard in the local area about the uncertain meeting of the villagers with the sage of Guja hill and their miraculous deeds.
(1) Bisheshwar Banchhor, a young herdman from Jadamunda village in the adjoining area of Guja hill, proceeded to the mountain to graze cattle. Two monks carried away the young man into the cave while he was grazing cows at the foot of the hill. They served him a variety of delicious meals in the worship room of the cave.
But the young man, fearing such an unexpected event, began to blubber to get rid of the monks. As a result, the monk renounced the young man outside the cave and returned to the cave. Cattle got back to the village amid the unusual events. The cowardly young man returned home in the morning. Villagers were horrified when he reported the incident.
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| ( Stairs ) |
(2) A man from Patarpalli village neighboring to the hill was suffering from diarrhea. He was preoccupied with not being able to recover even after consuming ayurvedic medicine. One day, he saw a monk while returning home after defecating from Guja hill.
He bowed and expressed his grief. The monk provided some ashes, advised the man to consume regularly, and disappeared. The man was healed in a short time by consuming the monks' ashes.
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| ( Guja pahar ) |
(3) Hundreds of years ago a supernatural monk upbuilt a hut hermitage and bided at the bottom of the Guja hill. He used to have only vegetables and fruits. He handed over the responsibility of the grotto to Ugrasan Sahu of Singhapali village.
At that point in time, public life in the surrounding villages was disrupted by the lack of water in March. To resolve this problem of drought, many villagers congregated to visit the monk. They prayed monk fervently to succor from the water crisis. To get rid of the above issue, the monk organized a seven-day Havan at his hermitage and thousands of people from the surrounding region attended. The monk struck a pinch under the banyan tree ground behind his ashram and generated a stream. Such miraculous activities of the monks were spread all over the place and people considered him ‘sidha Baba’.
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| ( Temples ) |
(4) Once again heavy rains in the villages adjacent to the Guja Hills have disrupted human and animal life. Hira Ram Sahu, Panchu Bhoi, Balki Panda, and Pabitra Bhoi of Singhai Pali village went along to the monastery to avoid such a catastrophe. The scene of the monk sleeping in the air above the burning fire astonished everyone.
Development
Roads have been constructed for tourists to travel to this historic Guja hill. The tourist area has been electrified. A "Guja pahad bikash committee" has been organized by local dignitaries to implement various development plans. Hermitage room, Siddha Baba temple, cooking room, Mahima Matha, Mahadev temple, Ganesh temple have been erected in collaboration with the government and various benefactors. Furthermore, various medicinal plants have been planted including jackfruit, Guava, mango, and lychees.
How to reach Guja pahar
Guja hill is known for its magnificent beauty and is believed to be heaven for nature lovers. The Guja hill is 50 km from Jharsuguda Headquarters. There are many ways to get here. The historic hill is located in the adjoining area of Barangamal village under Tilia gram panchayat. As Barangmal village is in corner of Jharsuguda, there is no bus service available. But you hire vehicle from Jharsuguda, Brajrajnagar or Belpahar town to reach the mountain very soon. Please visit the Guja Hills and enjoy its natural beauty.
-: Thank you for reading :-
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By :- Rohit Kumar Lohara
Purunabasti , Jharsuguda
Reference
Information :-
Brajajana Sadhana peetha : Sambalaka Rajyara Guja pahad
By :- Govind Chandra Tripathy
Video credit :- Traveller_Babu
Google Map Location Of Guja Pahar Provided below, Click on link .👇👇👇
Very nice 😊
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