- Special Features
Foundation Year8th CenturySthala TreeTheerthamRathamArchitectureOther Speciality
- Sthala Puran
The Maa Sarala Temple is a Hindu temple in the district of Jagatsinghpur, Odisha, India. It is one of the eight most famous Shakta shrines of Odisha.
In Hindu culture, 'Maa Sarala' (Mother Sarala) is a Goddess who acts as a patron of the followers of Vaishnav and Shakta. It is rare for a single deity to straddle both of these Hindu denominations. She is sometimes suspected to be a Buddhist tantric figure, as she holds a book, Veena and handbell, which are Mahayana symbols. Goddess Sarala is also known as Vak Devi, the Goddess of Knowledge and Wisdom, and Jhankad Vaasini Sharada.
The current temple is approximately 500 years old, and was built by the Raja of Manijanga. The remnants of the old temple are not visible, but folklore suggests that it was sited at Badasarol, where a temple to Ganesha now stands.
- Architecture
- Alankar of Deity
The sanctum sanctorum of the main temple contains three idols of the goddess. The main idol, carved out of stone, is an eight-armed figure of the goddess with her right foot on a lion, in the classic posture of Durga destroying the demon Mahishasura. She holds a sword (khadga), trident (trishul), manuscript (pustak) and lute or veena in her right hands and a disk (pattisha), bow (karmuka), bell (ghanta) and the head of the demon in her left hands. The second idol is four-armed, holding a conch shell (shankha) and a chakram, and making gestures of gift giving (varadamudra) and fearlessness (abhayamudra). The third idol is two-armed, made out of eight precious metals (ashtadhatu). The idols are taken out of the temple for different ceremonial occasions.
- Prayers and BenefitsSpecial Vratas and PrayersOfferings to Deity
The processional idol “Chalanti Vigraha” of Sharala is brought in a gorgeous palanquin from the present temple to the old temple seven times in a year to commemorate the ancient rituals. The idol of the deity is ceremoniously installed on the old throne where she had been worshiped for centuries. A male goat was traditionally sacrificed at the old temple in a panchayatana puja as the last ritual during the festival of Dussehra.
Stotras and Mantras
- FestivalsMaha Visuba Pana SankrantiThe Maha Visuba Pana Sankranti (Jhamu Yatra), otherwise known as the “fire-walking festival” is one of the important festivals of the goddess. Sudra Sevaks belonging to the Roul caste wear picturesque costumes and dance bare-footed over burning charcoals.Durga PujaThis is one of the greatest festivals in the Devi Peetha. Mahinsa Mardini Besa, Suna Besa and Kalika Nrutya are among the main attractions of the festival. Sodasa Upachara Puja takes place twice daily during this period. In the past, a buffalo was sacrificed on the prescribed day Mahastami (Sandhipuja), and a male goat sacrifice was performed before the ceremonial idol of the goddess on the day of Dussehra at the old shrine of the deity Sarola Grama.Chandan YatraChandan Yatra begins on Akshaya Tritiya and is observed for 21 days. It is a unique festival of the Shakta Shrine as the deity is worshiped here as Parama Vaishnavi.Nabanna PujaThe Nabanna occurs at the time of Odisha's harvesting season, in the first week of Agrahayana. Different types of foods are prepared for the deity, from the newly harvested crops and offered to the deity through Sodasa Upachara Puja.
- Sodasha Upcharas
- Prasadhas
- Social ActivitiesAnnadhanMarriageEar BoringHead ShaveDanaasEducation FacilitiesSocial DrivesOther Activities
- Arjita Seva
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