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2021-08-09T06:55:12Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
{{Primary sources|date=November 2009}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Samaleswari Temple
| image = Samlei Gudi (Samaleswari Temple).jpg
| alt = Samaleswari temple
| caption = Samaleswari Temple
| map_type = India Orissa
| map_caption = Location in Odisha
| coordinates = {{coord|21.4740|83.9591|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| native_name ='''"ମା ସମଲେଶ୍ଵରୀ ମନ୍ଦିର"'''
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Odisha, India|Odisha]]
| district =
| location = [[Sambalpur]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Samaleswari|Goddess Samaleswari]]
| festivals= [[Nuakhai]], Navaratra Puja
| architecture = [[Kalinga Architecture]], [[Hindu temple architecture|Hindu Temple Architecture]], [[Stone]] and [[Limestone]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity =
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
}}
[[File:Samaleswari9.jpg|thumbnail|300 px|Maa Samaleswari in white attire.]]
'''Samaleswari Temple''' is a [[Hindu temple]] in [[Sambalpur|Sambalpur, Western Odisha]], dedicated to the goddess known as ''''Samaleswari'''', also known among the natives as ''samalei maa'', meaning Mother [[Samaleswari]]. Shree Shree Samaleswari, the presiding deity of Sambalpur, is a strong religious force in western part of Odisha and Chhattisgarh state of India. On the bank of the [[river Mahanadi]] the mother goddess Samaleswari is worshipped from ancient times as Jagatjanani, Adishakti, [[Lakshmi|Mahalaxmi]] and [[Saraswati|Mahasaraswati]], and is the mother of the universe. The region in which the temple is situated has a rich cultural heritage. Sambalpur region is popularly known as Hirakhanda from ancient times. [[Ptolemy]] has described the place as Sambalaka, according to [[Tavernir]], the French explorer, and [[Edward Gibbon]], the English historian, diamonds were exported to Rome from Sambalpur.


The temple is of Sandhara order (these types of the temples have a square sanctum enclosed by a gallery of pillars meant for [[pradakshina]]). Thus, the Sandhara temples have a Pradakshinapatha is built of a kind of stone as 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 two separate structures. The square sanctum enshrining the deity is four step below the {{convert|10|ft|m|adj=mid|-wide}} covered circumambulation, which is supported by 12 stone pillars. Eleven parswa devis (side Goddesses), 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 Samalei Devi consists of a large block of granite rock with an inverted, trunk-like projection at the bottom. This also symbolises a yoni, and is an interesting kings-yoni worship. 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 leaves fixed on two disproportionate golden eye-like depressions on the face act 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 ''[[Navaratri]] pujas'' during the months of March and April and during the months of September and October ([[Chaitra]] Navaratri and [[Ashwin]] Navaratri respectively). The goddess is dressed differently on each day representing each of the [[Navadurga|Navadurgas]], this is called ''Beeja''. Among these two ''navaratra pujas'' (nine days continuous worship of the goddess) the second one is observed with a great splendour and devotion. On the 1st day of the Navaratri, the goddess is dressed in white attire, called ''Dhabalamukhi''. The third festival which is said to be the chief festival of the whole western [[Odisha, India|Odisha]] region is [[Nuakhai]]. In this festival, the farmers offer the first produce from their lands to the goddess before using it for their personal use.

==External links==
* [http://www.samaleswari.org/ Samaleswari]

{{Shakti temples in Orissa}}
{{Western Orissa}}

[[Category:Shakti temples]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Sambalpur district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Sambalpur]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Sambalpur]]

{{Odisha-hindu-temple-stub}}

Maa Samleswari Temple - Revision history

imported>Sonu1109 at 06:55, 9 August 2021