Samaleswari Temple is a Hindu temple in Sambalpur, Western Odisha, India dedicated to the goddess known as ‘Maa’, also known among the natives as samalei maa, meaning MotherSamaleswari. 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, Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati. 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 Sambalak, according to Tavernir, the French traveller, and Edward Gibbon, the English historian, diamonds were exported to Rome from Sambalpur.
Shree Shree Samaleswari, the presiding deity of Sambalpur, is a strong religious force in western part of Orissa and Chhattisgarh state of India. On the bank of the river Mahanadi the mother goddess Samaleswari is worshipped from ancient times as Jagatjanani, Adishakti, Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati. 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 Sambalak, Acording to Tavernir, the French traveller, and Edward Gibbon, the English historian, diamonds were exported to Rome from Sambalpur.
History
This temple was constructed in the year 1657 by King Chhatrasaya Deb and the construction of the temple was completed in the year 1695. The main deity of the Samaleswari Temple is Goddess Samalei. Pitabali is also worshiped in this Temple of Sambalpur. Pitabali is the God of “Kandhas”. So it is believed that they worshiped Goddess Samalei from many years ago.
As Sambalpur was only one place where Diamond was supplying to Rome so the Name of Sambalpur was “Hirakhand” as the local name of Diamond is “Hira”. The other name of this place was “Sambalaka”. In the year 1540 the King Narasingh Deb and his younger brother Balaram Deb established the Huma State there as the first king of the Area. One day the King was searching for a right place for establishing his Capital. He saw a unnatural thing there. He saw dogs are ran away by seeing the Thekuas. So the King thought that there is a some unnatural power. So he want to make a Temple there. As he built the temple under a “Simuli” tree so the temple was known as “Somel” and then known as Goddess Samalei. It is believed that as the name of the Goddess is “Samalei” so ass her name the Area or district is known as “Sambalpur”. Now this place is one of the famous tourist place of Orissa.
Construction
The Famous Samaleswari Temple is divided into parts. One is Badagudi and the other is Sanagudi. The Sanagudi is also known as the Mandap of the Temple where Lord Ganesh and other Gods are worshiped by facing Goddess Samalei. The most interesting thing of the Samaleswari Temple is all the priests of the temple are Khetriyas. The walls of the Famous temple is filled with the idols of Goddesses such as : Maa Kali, Maa Durga, Maa Mangala, Maa Ramchandi, Maa Banadurga, Maa Barahi, Maa Matangee, Maa Jualamukhi, Maa Ugratara etc.
