The unique and scientific hill range of Kapilash is now allset to celebrate Mahashivaratri and Jagaramela with great religious fervor and gaiety on Tuesday. According to a legend, lord Shiva appeared at Kapilash pleased with severe penance of a King Saudasha. Since then, Kapilash was counted as one of the famous Saivite centres.
Sources said on the Mahashivaratri, lord Chandra Sekhar, the presiding deity of Kapilash, is worshipped with Sodasa Uapachara Puja and Maha Rudra Aviseka. Amidst blowing of conch, Hulahuli and Turi, the Mahadeepa (huge lamp) is raised at an auspicious time ascertained by a royal priest. The lord is awakened from his cosmic sleep and during the occasion, he is adorned with Nagavarana Vesha. The meet of lord Chandra Sekhar with lord Narayana is described as Hari Hara Bheta. During the time, the linga and Shakthi are covered with Banarashi Pata, bel leaf, Gayas and Champa flowers made of gold.
The holly occasion of Mahashivaratri is also popularly known as Jagara Mela, as countless devotees throng the holly shrine to illuminate their lamps throughout the night with a belief to fulfil their desires.
The Dhenkanal history, however, reveals that lord Chandra Sekhar was earlier worshipped as Sikhareswar. Ganga Vansi prince Ananga Bhima Deva, being directed by lord Jagannath in a divine dream, surrendered before the linga at Kapilash to be released from a sin of Brahmahatya (killing a Brahmain). But the prince who first traced the linga covered with bel leaves, named the lord as Sikhareswar. later, Ganga Vansi King langula Nara Singhadev, erected the 60ft high temple of lord Chandrasekhar on April 30, 1246, at 457 meters high from the foothill.
Subsequently, Kasi Biswanath temple, Narayan temple, Gauri temple, Jaga Mohana, Mani Karnika Kunda, Papanasini Kunda, and 12 curved roads were constructed by the royal family of Dhenkanal. Interestingly, the idol of lord Narayan was designed in such a way that a perennial spring emerges from his nail of right toe. Kapilash also bears the mythological importance for the existence of Deba Sabha as Sitanka Entudisala (labour apartment of Sita) at the hilltop. Crow is not found in the Kapilash hill.
The district administration has fetched new idols of lord Bhairab, lord Ganesh and Goddess Durga Durga from Khiching to instal them in place of the stolen idols from Kapilash a few months back. Sources said new idols of the deities would be installed by the royal priest after watching holly time if possible before the Mahasivaratri.
