Jeypore: A major controversy has erupted at the Gupteswar Shrine after two young men entered the sacred premises along with dogs, sparking widespread outrage among devotees. The video of the incident has gone viral, and public sentiment is strongly against such actions.
The Gupteswar Shrine, located inside a cave on a hill in the Gupteswar Panchayat under Boipariguda block, Koraput district, is a sacred site where Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of Baba Gupteswar. The temple is managed with strict rituals and regulations. Despite this, on Wednesday, the two young men were seen carrying dogs inside the sanctum area, leading to sharp criticism.
The video shows the duo walking alongside devotees, climbing the hill with the dogs, and reaching up to the main shrine where the Shiva Lingam is worshipped. Shockingly, no priest or volunteer on duty stopped them or intervened. The incident has led to concerns over security lapses and poor management at the site, which is under the Endowment Department.
Devotees have alleged that such an act has violated the sanctity of the temple. There are already several restrictions in place — including a ban on taking photos of the deity — yet the fact that dogs were brought inside despite a ticketing system and regulated entry has left many questioning how such a breach could occur.
The shrine is visited by over 10,000 devotees daily, and during special occasions like Shravan, Kartik, and Shivratri, lakhs of pilgrims gather. The State Government has spent over ₹50 crores for the development of this site, including improving roads and darshan facilities. A local group is entrusted with ticket collection and crowd management, but the entry of dogs has exposed major loopholes in enforcement.
Many devotees tried to stop the individuals and raised strong objections, but their protest yielded no immediate results. It is widely believed that the presence of dogs in the holy cave has defiled its spiritual purity.
In response to the growing criticism, Chittaranjan Pattnaik, the Additional Tahasildar of Jaypur, has said that a thorough investigation will be conducted. Accountability will be established on how the dogs were allowed entry and who failed in their duties.
The incident has deeply hurt the religious sentiments of devotees. Many are now demanding strict action and permanent measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.