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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 moldy. The
temple comprises two separate structures. The square sanctum sanctorum
enshrining the deity is four step below the 10-foot-wide (3.0 m) covered
circumambulation, which is supported by 12 stone pillars. Eleven Parswa
Devis (side Goddess), are embedded on the outer wall of the sanctum, so
that the devotees can worship those deities during parikarma through the
vaulted circumambulation.
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. Traditional
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-pervading motherhood.
She is worshiped with a great care and devotion by the natives in
her temple, famously known as the samaleswari temple. Among the
varieties of festivals observed before the goddess throughout the year
three festivals are observed prominently. The first two are navaratra
puja during the months of March and April and during the months of
September and October.
Among these two navaratra pujas (nine days continuous worship of
the goddess) the second one is observed with a great splendour and
devotion. The third festival which is said to be the chief festival of
the whole western Orissa (sambalpur) region is nuakhai. In this festival
the farmers offer the first produce from their lands to the goddess
before using it for his personal use.
Getting There
Samaleswari Temple is situated 33 km (21 mi) southwest of the
district capital Sambalpur on the bank of Mahanadi River. Taxis and
regular buses are available easily to ply within these two location.
Sambalpur has two railway
stations, the main Khetrajpur and the Sambalpur Railway Station. The main
station is about 3 km from the city centre whereas the second one is a
little closer and most trains also stop here.
The daily trains departing from Sambalpur main station-Kolkata (12 hrs):
Koraput-Howrah Express (8006,1640); Puri (6 1/2 hrs): Tapaswini Express.
Jharsguda Railway Station, about one hour journey by bus from Sambalpur
provides connections for Mumbai and Delhi (via Katni).
There are also two bus terminal
(Govt. and the private), about 3 km from the city centre, the main VSS Marg
Bus Terminal, Private bus terminal. The private terminal has more regular services to
major towns in the area. Regular buses go to Bhubaneswar, Puri and Cuttack.
Taxis and auto rickshaws are
available for visiting the places of interest and for excursions. There are a number of
moderately priced hotels in the town.
The nearest domestic airport is
Swami Vivekananda Airport, located in Raipur, 269 km west of Sambalpur.
It is about four hours
drive to Swami Vivekananda Airport
from Sambalpur. To make arrangements for a taxi from Airport to
Sambalpur, contact one the taxi operators and travel agents that have
counter in the Airport.
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