About the Temple
TIME SCHEDULE OF THE TEMPLE
|
Mangala Alati |
-
5.00 a.m. |
|
Bhoga and Pahada |
-
12.00 Noon to 12.30 Noon |
|
Alat |
-
8.00 p.m. |
|
Bhoga |
-
9.00 p.m. |
|
Closure of Temple
|
-
10.00 p.m. |
On festival days and on all Tuesday there may be
deviation up
to 1 hour. Sale of Annabhog 12.15 noon onwards.
(Darshan is restricted
daily for 30 minutes only)
The temple is of Sandhara
order. It is built of a kind of stone durable as granite, cemented with lime
mortar, the whole building is plastered, but in the course of time the
surface has become mouldy. The temple comprises of two separate structures.
The square sanctum sanctorum enshrining the deity is four step below the
10’ feet wide covered circumbulation, which is supported by 12 stone
pillars. Eleven parswa devis (side Goddness), are embedded on the outer wall
of the sanctum, so that the devotees can worhsip those deities during
parikarma thourgh the vaulted circumbulation.
The plinth is about 16’
high. Above the plinth the building is square. 21’ 7” x 21’7”. The arched
roof commences after a height of 18 feet and tapers to the height of 35
feet., where the gradual diminution of the bulk has been abruptly
intercepted by a hip knob over which a gold pot and spire are placed. The
arch is supported by eight abutments each of which is gradually diminished
in size by lateral diminution of an inch on both sides of the successive
layers of which it is comprised. The whole arch is an oblong, resembling the
cupper half of the eclipse with equal longitudinal furrows and elevation
through out the whole surface. Commencing from each corner at the base
project four subordinate buildings 11 feet square, they are so situated that
the sides of square base of the temple be produced. They will touch two
extremities of each of the buildings. Each of them has has a domed roof,
supported by six pillars. A hip knob pierced by an iron spike, adorns the
top. Between these domes there are flat roofs supported by pillars, thus
forming a square verandah on each side of the temple, with four domes at the
corners adorned by the steeple which rises above all with gold pot spire
glittring in the sunshine.
On the Nothern side the
main temple, a 12’6” wide open yard separates the main temple from the 16
pillars audiance Hall. Formerly the steps of the main temple was worards the
North, On which the audience hall was build at a latter stage. The main
spire of the temple is adorned with eight pseudo temple motifs; the larger
ones face towards the four directions and the smaller motifs face towards
the four corners. The temple motif facing towards the North has an arched
opening which suggests the main entrance of the temple.
The Idol of Shree Shree
Samalai Devi consists of a large block of Granite rock with an inverted,
trunk like projection at the bottom. A shallow cut on her “Baraha” like face
symbolises her mouth. Traditinal Sambalpuri nose ornament of pure gold hangs
down from her imaginary nose Beaten gold leave fixed on two disproportionate
golden eye like depression on the face acts as substitute for her eyes in an
attempt to define the face of the mother deity on a mass of self shaped
rock, the devi’s idol inspires sublime sentiments of awe, fear, reverence,
devotion, love and affection towards all prevading mother hood.
The deities worshipped
inside the temple and in the premises of the temple :
1. Maa
Samaleswari
2. Bhubaneswari
3. Chhatrabauti
4. Bighnaraj
5.
Ugratara
6. Maa
Kali
7.
Narasinghi
8. Durga
9. Mangala
10. Jwalamukhi
11. Banadurga
12. Barahi
13. Chhinnamasta
14. Matangi
15. Ramachandi
16. Banjari
17. Hanuman
18. Ghantasini
19. Nadabramha
20. Bhanumati
21. Dakshini
22. Uttara
23. Balaram
24. Bagheswari
25. Bakratunda
26. Parsuram
27. Kalki
28. Nrusingh
29. Bamana
30. Kachhapa
31. Buddha
32. Palasi
33. Nauli
34. Matsya
35. Ram
36. Sitala
37. Garudakshi
38. Narayan
39. Garuda
40. Ghorarupi
41. Baraha
42. Kanakangi
43. Shandashi
44. Divyarupa
45. Kamakshya
46.
Durgatinashini
47. Ekadanta
48. Chandinayak
49. Ganesh
50. Karamsani
51. Hanuman
52. Bhairav
53. Basundhara
54. Ambica
55. Swarupa
56. Bhairav
57. Navadurga
58. Arunastambha
59. Maheswari
60. Raktamauli
61. Brunda
62. Tara
63. Ahalya
64. Draupadi
65. Kunti
66. Mandodari
67. Gouri
68. Souri
69. Bahana
Singha
70. Hasta
71. Singha
72. Singha
73. Gaja
74. Supati
75. Nageswari
76. Supaswi
77. Narayani
78. Hasti
79. Singha
80. Gaja
81. Singha
82. Gaja
83. Ananta
84. Singha
85. Singha
86. Bijaya
87. Singha
88. Singha
89. Matandi
90. Singha
91. Shankha
92. Singha
93. Singha
94. Indramukhi
95. Singha
96. Singha
97. Ardrabati
98. Singha
99. Singha
100. Bimati
101. Singha
102. Singha
103. Prachanda
104. Singha
105. Singha
106. Kapali
107. Ambi
108. Chinamali
109. Mauli
110. Ghodaghat
111. Ghikundi
112. Akhada Hanuman
Akhada Hanuman, Bhairva
and Mauli Devi are worshipped in separate temples while Sitala Thakurani is
worshipped in “Sangudi” or Mandap Mandir. A large size Bahana Singha Bigraha
has been installed in recent years in the middle of the temple premises
which is supposed to be the biggest astadhatu Bahana Singha Bigraha in Asia.
The Bhumi Puja of the said place was performed by his holiness Jagadguru
Shankaracharya of Goverdhanmath, Puri, namely Swami Nischalananda Saraswati.
Almost all towns and
villages of this region have a temple of Maa Samaleswari. In modern Orissa
no single goddess has sway over a large territory after Lord Jagganath. The
main temple of Goddess Samaleswari at Sambalpur is the source of
inspiration. |
