Bareilly, known as Nathnagari, has a long chain of Nath temples. Among these, the ancient Gopala Siddha temple is such that the worship of Shiva devotee Kanwadis who perform Chalisa in Sawan without bowing their heads is not considered complete. Throughout the year, devotees from remote areas come here and worship to get their wishes fulfilled. There is a surge of faith in Sawan and thousands and lakhs of people gather in the fair.
According to beliefs, the Gopala Siddha Temple located on the Bukhara-Faridpur road in Bareilly is hundreds of years old. It is said that at the place where the temple is located today, in ancient times there used to be the mouth of the Ramganga river. The river used to flow exactly touching the banks of the temple. At that time there was nothing like a temple on the river bank. A cowherd named Gopal, who came to the banks of Ramganga, got some knowledge at this place and left all his work and started meditating.
After a long penance, one day he heard his mother’s voice and told Gopal Gwala that his sadhana has been completed and he has become perfect. Even after hearing the voice, Gopala did not break his meditation and suddenly he became perfect and transformed into Shivalinga. When the nearby villagers came to know about this, they started gathering at the temple and started worshiping. As the news of Gawaha Siddh spread far and wide, the Aastha Center started getting flooded.
Mahant Narayan Giri of the temple tells that later the people of the area had first built a small Mathiya on Gopala Siddha for Siddha Siddha Peeth, then with mutual cooperation it was transformed into a huge temple. It is believed that every wish of those who come and worship at Gopala Siddha temple is fulfilled. Therefore, devotees not only from the city and district but also from other states come here. Biharipur Baba Ragiya Giri, a former jail constable who has been coming and offering prayers at the Gopala Siddha temple every Monday for the last 40 years, says that he finds great peace here. Leaving worldly life, he is living a saintly life. Be it rain or any other problem, Gopala Siddha never forgets to reach there.
A fair is held in the temple every Monday
Although a large number of devotees continue to reach the Gopala Siddha temple, a devotional fair is held here on Mondays. Devotees start arriving from far away places right from the morning. There is a fair atmosphere in the temple premises. Families also come here and perform the Mundan Sanskar and Bhandara of their children. It is said about Gopala Siddha Temple, which has the identity of Siddha Devsthal, that the wishes of those who come there and worship Baba, are definitely fulfilled. The Chalisa of Shiva devotees who observe Chalisa in the month of Shravan is not considered complete until they come to the Gopala Siddha temple to pay their obeisance. Those who observe Chalisa for the entire forty days in the temples of Bareilly like Dhopeshwarnath, Alakhnath, Triptinath, Bankhandinath etc. in the month of Shravan to please Lord Bholenath. To fulfill the rituals and sadhana, he definitely reaches Gopala Siddha and bows his head.
Lakhs of devotees will gather in the month of Shravan
In the month of Sawan, a flood of faith will be seen at Gopala Siddha Temple. Shiva devotees from remote areas will reach here and worship Bhole. Thousands of devotees are seen arriving here every day during the month of Sawan. In this context, the arrival of lakhs of Shiva devotees is recorded throughout the month of Saavan. There is a fair atmosphere here throughout the month of Sawan.