In a dramatic turn of events, a sizable eight-foot python was rescued from the Kapilas Shiva Peeth temple premises in Dhenkanal. The incident occurred on the final Monday of the Shravan month, when the python was discovered within the main Shivalinga Temple dedicated to Baba Kapilash.
The Dhenkanal District Wildlife and Snake Rescue Team responded to an alert from locals and devotees, finding the python resting on the temple grounds. According to Suryakant Behera, a member of the rescue team, the snake was safely captured and handed over to the Kapilas Forest Department. It will undergo a medical examination before being released into its natural habitat.
The temple priest remarked that the presence of the python was perceived as a divine blessing from Lord Shiva. Despite the frequent sightings of snakes, there have been no reports of snake bites among devotees, which they attribute to the protective grace of Lord Chandrashekhar.
This incident follows a similar occurrence on July 24, when seven large snakes were rescued from the same temple. Although snake sightings during the monsoon season in Odisha are not uncommon, the sheer number of large snakes found has surprised the local community.
Reports indicate that numerous snakes were seen around the Kapilash Peetha temple on the first Monday of the sacred month of Shravana. This year, however, marks the first time such a significant number of large snakes has been reported in the area.