Orissa Review * September-October - 2007 Devi Sureswari of Sonepur Pabitra Mohan Barik Sonepur is the second town of Orissa next to the of ritual, customs, and faith. It is said by the people state capital Bhubaneswar is famous for its temple that there were 108 temples in Sonepur in past. culture. Sonepur is the only town of western Orissa Thirty temples are found in Sonepur at present. where a large number of attractive and heart It is also said that eight temples are touching temples are found. It is the symbol of dedicated to Astha Chandi. These temples are cultural movement and glorious past. These Sureswari, Khambeswari, Bhagavati, Samalei, temples also show our greatness in the fields of Vimalaksi, Narayani, Rama Chandi, and art, architecture, tradition and religious faith. The Dasamati. Sonepur is an ancient Saktipitha. There historic town Sonepur, is the headquarter of found other Sakti temples like Manikeswari Suvarnapur district. Its geographycal situation is temple and the open air temple on the monolithic responsible for the growth of a cultural centre. rock in the gorge of the Mahanadi river called the This town is located in the confluence of the holy temple of Lankeswari. It is also said by the people river Mahanadi and its tributary, the Tel. The that Sonepur was an ancient Tantra and Sakti importance of this place is increased due to pitha. Pratap Ray the Court poet of Sonepur had considerable antiquarian and archaeological written a memorable text named "Sashishena" in interest. In past Sonepur was ruled by the various which he has described about magic performance royal dynasties of Orissa like the Bhanjas, the and wonder power of Tantra Kumari Madan Kalachuris, the Teluguchodas, the Soma and the Maluni. No doubt Sonepur is a great place of Ganga Vamsis. Lastly this region was captured Sakti culture. Number of religious rituals, faiths by Madan Gopal Singh Deo the younger brother and customs related to Sakta culture are observed of Balaram Singh Deo the Chauhan ruler of by people. Sambalpur. He defeated a tribal chief of Gond clan and exercised the Chauhan supremacy in this Devi Sureswari is the presiding deity of area. Gangadhar Mishra the Court poet of Subarnapur district. People of this district show Baliarsingh Deo of Sambalpur has described their high devotional feeling towards Devi Sonepur as the second Varanasi in his Sanskrit Sureswari. Temple of Devi Sureswari is situated text "Kosalananda Kavyam". In Sonepur thirteen in Sonepur town. A six-handed standing image Chauhan rulers ruled for more than three hundred of Kali is worshhipped as Sureswari. The main years. During their rule, number of new temples festival of Devi Sureswari is observed in the time were constructed which increased cultural of Dasahara. The "Balijatra" is one of the greatest activities, religious spirit and improved the value fair of Devi which is celebrated from the Aswina 35 Orissa Review * September-October - 2007 Amabashya to Purnima for fifteen days. Entire it is considered as the good symbol. The red and Sonepur town becomes crowded and sounded black colour soil identify sorrow, suffering, illness. by the traditional musical instruments. In past it is It is said by people that a large number of horrses heard that the human sacrifice was being given had been sacrifised here in the past. So the soil is near the temple of Devi Sureswari. Even during poisonous. The soil is smeared in the body of the time of Biramitro Singh Deo, the ruler of Barua for entering of God in his body. There is a Sonepur that incident. According to a popular great faith among people that Devi Sureswari legend Parshuram had performed a vedic sacrifice fulfills the the desires of the devotees. Devi here and established Devi Sureswari by the Sureswari becomes Dasavesa from the fourth day direction of his mother Renuka. The temple side of full moon in the month of Aswina. These vesas of Devi Sureswari is regarded as Renuka Pitha. are Kali, Tara, Sodashi, Bhubaneswari, The sacrificial altar of Parshuram is known as Chinnamasta, Bagala mukhi, Bhairavi, Matangi, "Khaulagada". The temple of Devi Sureswari is Kamala and Dhumabati. Devi Sureswari is well situated in the south-west direction of the town. decorated with above vesas in the time of The main gate of the temple faces towards east Dasahara. Devi is also offered prayer in sodasha but Devi Sureswari looks towards north. Seven upachara. The Dasavesa of Devi Sureswari are Ponds are found by the temple side of Sureswari. very attractive and heart touching. Devotees from According to many scholars these ponds were far and wide come here to see the Dasavesa in the fort moats of the Kalachuri rulers. Devi the time of Dasahara. On the day of "Nuakhai" Sureswari was the presiding deity of the fort of the mass festival of western, Arnna Bhoga is first Chauhan ruler Achal Singh Deo who was the offered to Devi Sureswari. Then the people of builder of that historic temple. But after that Subarnapur district take the Prasada. It is said Maharaja Biramitra Singh Deo constructed many by the people that in every midnight Devi images of parsvadevatas. Devi Sureswari is Sureswari moves around Sonepur town by horse. worshipped in Vana Durga mantra. In the People say Devi protects the devotees in time of parsvadevata niches, there are images of ten- needs. The temple of Devi Sureswari occupy a handed dancing Durga, four-handed Devi sitting great position is Sakti culture. It is one of the well in lalitasana and eight-handed Ganesa all on the known ancient Sakti pitha of Orissa. Devi Visvapadma pedestals. Standing image of Bhairav Sureswari was the presiding deity of Sonepur and tantric Buddhist goddess named Tara are kept royal family. People have great faith on the divine here and there all around the temple. There is a power, love and blessings of Devi Sureswari. So Khaulgada in the temple premises. During the they have been showing devotional respect to Balijatra, Barua (the priest) smears the soils of Devi Sureswari. Khaulagada in his own body. Then the God enters in the body of the Barua. In a ceremony named "Khaula Phita" in which the soil is collected from the Khaulgada, the Barua collects the soil from the Khaulgada in the midnight of month of Aswina. Pabitra Mohan Barik is a Lecturer in History in the S.H. If the white soils come out from the Khaulagada, Mahavidyalaya, Madanpur, Khurda, Orissa. 36.