guptlinga mahadev temple – this secluded shiva temple is situated about 3 km from shikhar shingnapur shiva temple. shikhar shingnapur temple is much more famous than this guptlinga temple. both these temples are connected with chhatrapati shivaji maharaj family. another important shiva temple situated nearby is amruteshwar temple.
how to reach guptlinga temple – it is situated in phaltan subdivision of satara district in maharashtra. distance from pune is 153 km, 41 km from phaltan and 84 km from pandharpur, one of the famous religious place of maharashtra.
approximate map location with nearby religious places marked:
virtual tour of guptlinga shiva temple:
maha dwar of shree shetra guptlinga mahadev mandir. like shikhar shignapur, this temple is also connected with great king shiva ji maharaj family. udyanraje bhosale is the 13th descendant of the maratha king chhatrapati shivaji maharaj.
view from the main gate of the temple premises. at the entrance few ladies were selling pooja material. we were greeted by few monkeys at this point. we offered them chana bought from these ladies.
you have to climb down around 100-200 steps to reach the mahadev temple. there are few shiva and parvati ma statues placed on the way.
another beautiful statue on the way.
this is the the view of temple from far (after taking first right turn from previous photo showing steps). on left side is valley with water stream following through it and on right side is rocky mountain.
right side view of mountain.
left side view of the mountain.
approaching close to guptlinga shiva temple.
guptlinga mahadev temple. its a small temple known for its gupt shivling.
main shivling in the temple sanctum. you can see one marble tile is removed in this above photo. the tile is removed to feel the gupt shivling which is placed right below this shivling. thats why it is called as guptlinga mahadev temple.
there is water below this shivling. you have to put your stretched arm totally inside this cavity made by displacing the tile. at a distance of 2 to 2.5 feet, the shivling is felt in inverted shape. it is said that only fortunate people can touch it. i saw few people were scared to put their hands inside the cavity. so take the mahadev name and try your luck.
in the temple complex there are few more shivlings and behind them names of maharaj (holy men) are mentioned.
floating stone from ram setu. stone from the bridge which lord rama army build over sea to reach lanka.
floating stone from ram setu. when people threw coins over this stone then it made noise. so looks solid stone.
behind the temple is rocky mountain. one very small water stream is coming from these mountain and passing through the temple.
lets end this virtual temple journey with praise to lord shiva – har har mahadev.
rajiv.Dahiphale says
jai shiv shambho mahadev