Maa Sarala Temple

Sarala temple is situated in the district of Jagatsinghpur, Orissa. Conveniently located, this temple is accessable by road from Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack and Paradeep. The nearest Airport is Bhubaneshwar, which is approximately 80 kms, and is well connected by road. The nearest railway station is Cuttack, however there is a small Pessenger Halt at Sarala Road, near Tentulipada. The temple can be reached via Jagatsinghpur,or Tarapur by road, from Cuttack.

Maa Sarala - a hindu goddess patronizes the cultures of [Vaishanivism] and [Shaivaism] at one go. Rarely one finds the use of Bella Patra and Tulasi patra in any temple, as they are symbols of two distinct Hindu culture.

There is also some controversy regarding the deity, where it is suspected that the deity may be a [Buddhist tantric figure], as she holds a book and hand bell – known Buddhist symbols. It is said that Huen Tsang, the chinese pilgrim visited orissa and he had taken a ship from Chilitolo Port to Sri lanka, which historians attribute to modern day Tirtol. This may be a possibility as geography shows that Paradip, was an island and the land in and around Kujanga was under water - Sea/River. There is Geographic evidence to supprort this. To be at a safer side, we may conclude that Sarala represents the Shiva-Shakti cult which evolved from an amalgamation of Shaivism (worship of Shiva), Shaktism (worship of the Mother Goddess) and the Vajrayana, or Tantric form of Mahayana Buddism.

Goddess Sarala, is known as Bak Devi goddess of Knowledge and Wisdom. It is well documented that [Sarala Das] - a small time farmer and part-time Oriya Paika, was an ardent follower of the goddess and it was after her blessings that Sidheshwar Parida became Sarala Das, the author of Oriya Mahavharata.

LOCATION

Shrine of Goddes Sarala Pitha located in Jagatsingpur the coastal district of Orissa it is only 14 Kilometers distance from distirict  head quarter and 48 Km from Cuttack railway station and 70 Km from Konark temple through Kakatpur Mangala and Jagatsinghpur. Forty Five Km from International Port Paradeep.