Samaleswari

This article discusses a particular goddess of Hinduism. To know more, see Hindu (disambiguation).

Maa Samlesiri is the presiding deity of Sambalpur and is a strong religious force in western part of Odisha and Chhattisgarh state of India. Maa Samlesiri is known as the symbol of "Samalpuri" culture. On the bank of the river Mahanadi the mother goddess Samlesiri has been worshiped from ancient times as Jagatjanani, Adishakti, Mahashakti and Bhuvaneshvari. The Sambalpur region has been called Hirakhand since ancient times. Ptolemy described the place as Sambalak. According to Tavernir, the French traveller, and Edward Gibbon, the English historian, diamonds were exported to Rome from Samalpur. Originally the goddess was known as Somaleswari. (Soma - eternal bliss) Somaleswari - Soma Datri meaning "one who bestows eternal bliss." It is said that since the goddess Samlesiri was worshipped under a Semel (simili) tree (cotton tree), she was called Samlesiri.

Introduction

The independent kingdom of Patna (currently Balangir District) was ruled by Raja Narasingh Dev from 1540 A.D. to 1547 A.D. The capital of the kingdom was near the present town of Patnagarh on the bank of the river Mayabati in Balangir District. It is said that in the midnight of the dark fortnight of Sravana in the rainy season the queen of King Narasingh Dev suffered from intense labour pain and her life was in danger. A traditional midwife lived in a village on the other side of the river Mayabati, but the river was in full spate with a swift current. Balaram Dev swam across the flooded river and brought back the midwife from her village on his shoulders. With the care and treatment offered by the midwife the queen delivered a son who was named Hamir Dev.

Formation of Samalpur

King Narasingh Dev was greatly pleased by the valour of his younger brother Balaram Dev and granted him a large tract of land which later became the kingdom of Huma Desh and later became the independent kingdom of Samalpur. Balaram Dev ruled Samalpur sometime between 1540 AD and 1557 AD (Pasayat,2004:90-96; 2004:83-89). The Kings of Samalpur later expanded their territory on a vast area of Western Orissa and Chattisagrh known as Athara Garjat or 18 Garjat. This kingdom was renamed Hirakhand.

Existence of Maa Samlesiri

According to local stories, it is said that on a particular day Balaram Dev crossed the river Mahanadi and came to the right bank to go hunting with his hounds. While hunting, he noticed a miracle. He saw that his hounds, rather than chasing a rabbit, were being chased by the rabbit itself. It seemed that his hounds were in mortal fear of the rabbit. The king stood stunned and later noticed that the rabbit returned to the foot of a huge simili (cotton) tree on the left bank of Mahanadi and disappeared. Balaram Dev returned to his camp that night and had a strange dream. The goddess Samlesiri manifested herself to him and said that she was residing in Gumadarha inside the river and that he should establish her at the foot of the simili tree and build a temple. She blessed the king and vanished. The next morning Balaram Dev made up his mind and considering the importance of the left bank of Mahanadi on the ground of religion and administration established his fort. He installed the goddess Samlesiri under the simili tree and built a temple. Samalpur was a small village at that time. According to some historians, the idol of the goddess Samlesiri under the simili tree was worshipped by tribals from the third century A.D. until the temple was built by Balaram Dev.

Samlei Gudi (The Samlesiri Temple)

Samlesiri Temple was built some time in the middle of 16th century. It was rebuilt by the 7th independent king of Samalpur, Chhatra Sai, who reigned from 1657 to 1665 AD and endowed vast land for Seva and Puja of the deity to a group of sevayats. The temple is built of a kind of stone as durable as granite cemented with lime mortar, and the whole building is plastered. The square sanctum sanctorum enshrining the deity is four steps 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 arched roof begins after a height of 18 feet and tapers to the height of 35 feet.

Myths and legends

It is believed that a man named Krupasindhu Panigrahi and his wife were buried in the foundation of the temple during its construction. Eventually human sacrifice was discontinued and the practice of sacrificing buffalo was adopted. Later only small animals such as goats were used for this practice. The sacrifice of buffaloes has been abandoned for several years. The practice of human sacrifice stopped centuries ago. It is said that in ancient times human sacrifice was offered once a year.

Kala Pahad

It is said that in 16th century Kalapahad, the general of the King of Bengal, attacked Orissa and defeated and killed the last Hindu emperor, Gajapati Mukunda Dev, in the 16th century. He ravaged some of the famous temples of Midnapore, the Khirachora Gopinath temple of Balasore, the Khiching temple of Mayurbhanj, the temples of Konark Bhubaneswar, Puri, Jajpur & Cuttack. Then he attacked Samalpur.

The legend goes that Kalapahad was defeated due to Maa Samlesiri. Kala Pahad's tomb and those of his soldiers are located on the outskirts of Samalpur.

Idol of Maa Samlesiri

The Idol of Shree Shree Samlei Devi consists of a large block of granite stone with an inverted, trunk-like projection at the bottom. A shallow cut on her "Baraha"-like face symbolises her mouth. A traditional Samalpuri nose ornament of pure gold hangs down from her imaginary nose. Beaten gold leaf fixed on two disproportionate golden eyes like depressions on the face acts as a 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.

Festivals of Maa Samlesiri

On Nuakhai Annabhoga rice from new paddy is offered to Maa Samlesiri. It is the most important mass festival in the Western Orissa in particular and Orissa in general.

On Mahalaya more than one lakh devotees have a holy devi darshan of Dhabalmukhi Besha. It is believed that darshan of Dhabalmukhi Samlesiri gives the blessing of Gangadarshan. Thus it is known as Ganga Darshan Besh.

During this festival the akhada ustad and akhada masters display martial art along with their players with sticks, swords and fire which attracts the people very much.

Every Tuesday and Saturday a large number of devotees and tourists come from different parts of the country.

Worship

Devi Samlesiri is worshipped with the Bhuvaneshvari mantra by Kshatriya sevayats. They belong to 12 families and use the surname "RAI". On the days of festivals like Nuakhai a puja is offered in a total 112 places in the temple premises. No one including pujakas demand money from the devotees, which creates an atmoshphere for comfortable darshan.

See also