Samaleswari Temple, Sambalpur – Legends

Samaleswari Temple, Sambalpur – Legends

King Balaram Dev, builder of this temple:

Once, King Balaram Dev, first Chauhan ruler of Sambalpur, crossed river Mahanadi and came to the right bank with his hounds for hunting. He noticed a strange event during hunting. His hounds instead of chasing the rabbit were chased by the rabbit itself. He was stunned seeing the event and followed the rabbit. The rabbit went inside a huge Simili tree on the left bank of Mahanadi and disappeared. King Balaram Dev returned to his camp after the hunting expedition and had a strange dream at night. Goddess Samaleswari appeared in his dreams and ordered him to construct a temple at the foot of the Simili tree. As ordered by the goddess, he constructed the temple and established his fort at left bank of Mahanadi.

Kalapahar invasion of Sambalpur:

As per legend, Kalapahar, a Muslim General of Bengal Sultanate under the Karrani Dynasty invaded Sambalpur with a huge army in 16^th century CE. He camped near Durgapali on the banks of Mahanadi River near to Samaleswari temple. He had a huge drum made of cow hide and had huge bells. It is said that huge sound caused from the bell by the beating of the drum made the idols to get disintegrated. His intention was to destroy the Samaleswari temple and the other temples in Sambalpur.

Before, he could start his heinous crime, a beautiful milk maid with a basket of milk, curd and cheese on her head, reached the camp of Kalapahar. She sold his items to Kalapahar and his army. It is said that his entire army along with Kalapahar suffered from cholera and other related diseases causing total chaos in his camp. This made him to abandon his invasion and the plan of destroying the temples in Sambalpur. He left Sambalpur leaving the most of his armoury, the huge drum and the bells.

It is believed that the Goddess Samaleswari manifested herself in the form of a milk maid and caused devastation in the army of Kalapahar. A huge drum and a large number of bells used to be kept at the Mukhasala of the Samaleswari temple. It is said that a large number of tombs believed to be those of the dead soldiers of Kalapahar are found in a mango grove near Samaleswari College building on the banks of river Mahanadi.

Human Sacrifice:

It is said that a person named Krupasindhu Panigrahi and his wife were buried in the foundation of the temple during construction. It is said that the human sacrifice was offered once in a year in ancient times. Human sacrifice was stopped following miracle of Samaleswari with a saint from Amritsar, who became the Mahanta of Gopalji Math later on. The practice of human sacrifice was discontinued in 17^th century and the practice of sacrificing buffalo was adopted. Even, the practice of sacrificing the buffalo was also stopped.