Odisha Review October - 2012 Festivals, Rituals and Vesas of Goddess Samalesvari of Sambalpur Dr. P.K. Singh Goddess Samalesvari is worshipped as the Goddess Durga under the Semel trees. For presiding deity in most of the Sakta shrines of example at Bhatigaon under Barpali block of Western Odisha. She is worshipped in various Bargarh district, icon of Mahisamarddini Durga forms and figures such as in the case of is worshipped as Goddess Samalesvari. Also in Samalaesvari temple of Barpali and Sambalpur, case of Budhi Samalei of Suvarnapur, the She is worshipped as a large block of stone in presiding deity is a four-armed Durga. Thus the middle of which is a projection resembling Goddess Samalesvari is a popular deity in the the mouth of a cow; the length and breadth of Western extremity of this projection has Odisha. a groove of a thread breath which is called the mouth. As Rituals discussed by N. Senapati and B. Mohanty1, at both sides of When the Chauhan kings the projection, there are of Patna State came to rule depressions over which over Western Odisha, they between gold leave is placed tried to appease the local tribes as a substitute for eye. by accepting their deity According to some scholars2, Samalei as their Istadevi it is also described as a massive (tutelary deity) and thereby triangular rock with something manipulating their support for like a penis protruding at the good governance. According bottom, a unique image in the to noted scholar F. Deo3, the whole country, a rare relic of Chauhan king Balaram Dev the linga-yoni worship. She (1542 to 1556 A.D.) exulted does not correspond to any the local tribal deity Samalei to other deities of Hindu religion. state deity by accepting the foot However, in certain Samalesvari temples of prints of his ancestor, Ramai Western Odisha, especially in the rural areas She Dev, the first Chauhan king, adorned her with great is worshipped in the anthropomorphic form of veneration and respect. Therefore the Chauhan 14 October - 2012 Odisha Review kings made it as their state policy by accepting prints with two eight-petalled lotus rosette motifs the local faiths and beliefs for the expansion of on both the sides are carved on a stone panel, their territory. Since then Goddess Samalesvari which is worshipped as Sital Mata. Such type of occupies a very pivotal position in the religious foot prints were worshipped by Siddhacharyas, and cultural life of the people of Western Odisha. which was common in the Buddhist Tantric Number of Samalesvari temples are dotted with School. Thus in the worship of Goddess throughout the length and breadth of Western Samalesvari there was very much influence of Odisha. In each and every temple dedicated to Tantricism. Goddess Samalesvari, festivals are observed in 5 specific months of the year i.e., September and According to Late Durga Prasad Ray , October are very common. In this discussion, the chief priest of Samalesvari temple of specific study has been made with regard to Sambalpur, Goddess Samalesvari is worshipped festivals, rituals and vesas associated with the in Vaishnavi mantra i.e., om hring shring Goddess Samalesvari of Sambalpur. Since the Somalesvarje aing sring namah. Vija Mantra: time of Balaram Dev, the illustrious Chauhan king, Sring. Gayatri Mantra: Narayanai Bidmahe Goddess Samalesvari became the tutelary deity Somolesvarjei dhimahim tamodevi of the king and the people of his kingdom. As prochodayat. described in Kosalananda Mahakavyam, Sambalpur grew luxuriously to a metropolis full Dhyana: Sindura Ranakanti hemavandana of riches and free from fear and abounding in soundharya varan nidhi, ratnakalpa nature which came without efforts due to the bibhusitam kuchanatam saleikarimanjarim, blessings of Goddess Samalesvari. Sambalpur hasthe sulagadam sikhecha mukutam became the capital city of Chauhan kingdom as a soudanmini sannibham, dhayardugabare landmark in the history and culture of Western virajitatare sri Somaladhisvarim. Odishan people. The regular Puja and Seva to Prarthana: Sidhi bhavatume Devi Tatprasadat Goddess started which was gradually Sanskritized krupamayee, lokamata Gopi rupa trahimam and Aryanised. As in the case of other Sakta 6 temples of Western Odisha, tribal priests normally saranagata worship, but in Samalesvari temple of Sambalpur, Goddess Samalei is offered with both Kshatriya priests are engaged for worship since vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods. Thus the the time of Balaram Dev. tribal deity worshipped by the aboriginals has Sambalpur was also popular as a seat of become an idol of the Hindus in course of time. Tantric Buddhism from the early times. Even when According to Pandit Gopinath Panigrahi,7 Samalei Buddhism was about to decline in different parts is no other than Goddess Asapuri of the of India, the new order Tantric Buddhism bagan Garhsambhar Chauhans. He has tried to prove to flourish under the princess Laxmikara, the sister the lunar origin of the Chauhans through the of king Indrabhuti of Sambal in 8th century A.D. etymological significance of the word Samalai Perhaps the present pitha of Goddess (Soma-crescent moon). A close look however Samaleswari owes its origin to this period. reveals that Samalei is not a Hindu icon, no armed According to scholar S.S. Panda4, inside the Durga. On the other hand as pointed out by noted sanctum of Samalei temple a pair of human foot scholar Prof. P.M. Nayak8 She has the form of a 15 Odisha Review October - 2012 caste vagina interpenetrated with the penis, which in nature which reflects the culture of the people presupposes that the name is perhaps derived of the particular area or locality. Here discussion from the word Sambhalai suggestive of the ability has been made with regard to some important to bear. This linga-yoni image reminds us to Sakta festivals associated with Samalesvari temple several centuries back to the Greeko-Roman of Sambalpur. days of phallic worship. This phallic image of Samalai is hardly concreted by our efforts to The major festivals associated with Aryanize and modernize and Hinduise this very Samalesvari temple are Nuakhai, Mahalaya and primitive deity through improvization and Saradiya Vasantika Durga Puja. Every year with visualization of an oval face with a protruding much pump and luxury, Nuakhai Bhetghat is organized on Bhadrava Sukla Paksha inside the tongue with all her superimposed ornaments and temple premises. People of Sambalpur region eat garlands Goddess Samalai stands on a huge block Navarna (new rice) only after it is offered to of stone in the unmistakable shape of a vagina Goddess Samalesvari. Nua Khai is such a penetrated by a penis. Like Goddess Charchika popular festival in western Odisha that on this of Banki, Biraja of Jajpur, Sarala of Jhankada, occasion people exhibit their gratitude and Chandi of Cuttack, Samlei of Sambalpur has made thankfulness to the creator and Mother Goddess Sambalpur as an important Sakta Pitha of Odisha. earth. This festival normally observed on the 5th Festivals day of Bhadrava Sukla Paksha when newly harvested rice is first offered to the presiding deity Festivals are the occasions that reinforce Samalesvari and other gods and goddesses and the presence of Gods and Goddesses in the life then they eat the new rice sitting together. of the individuals and community. Those are also Everybody wears new clothes, people clean their moments for the people and to be a part of as houses. Younger members of the family touch the old, yet still vibrant and living traditions9. Festivals feet of the elders in the neighbourhood and visit are also full of enjoyment, when they coincide with Samalesvari temple to pay homage to the deity. agricultural events such as harvest like Nuakhai On this occasion various types of cultural events or Navarna celebrated in West Odisha during like music and dance, meeting, akhada are Bhadraba Sukla Paksha every year. Websters organized at the premises of the Samalesvari Dictionary defines the term festival as a day or temple. Another important celebration associated time of religious or other celebration marked by with Goddess Samalesvari is Gundikhai on the feasting, ceremonies or their observances. Festival day of full moon of Phalguna, the first crop of is celebrated by one religious or sub group, group, mangoes with char (a type of miniature sweet a tribe or a community with exceptions to few black berries) and new Mahul flower are first individuals. Rituals performed during festivals are offered to Goddess Samalesvari and then common to one social group, a religious sect or a members of the locality take those offerings. In community. Food, sweets, fruits, nuts etc. the month of April on the occasion of Mahavisuva prepared during the festivals are common to one Samkranti, Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated inside social group, religious sect or a community. The the temple precinct. By worshipping Devi Durga, celebration of such festivals and rituals associated Sati Savitri got back her husband, Satyavan. To with Sakta shrines of western Odisha are religious commemorate this event, Savitri Vrata is 16 October - 2012 Odisha Review celebrated in the month of May. In the month of (August-September), Puajuntia Osha, Dipavali, June Samalesvari is worshipped as the protector Syama Puja, Maha Sarasvati Puja etc. are against all dangers and in Her honour Vrata and observed. Hera Panchami are observed. In the month of July, Chitau Amavasya and Sravanaviseka are The following festivals are celebrated performed in the temple. The other festivals are throughout