As you head down the Tirtol block, you’ll smell wet clay and incense before you reach the bureau of the goddess known as Maa Sarala. When you approach the main entrance gate of the temple, you will see a large pond nearby. This pond is considered holy by the local population and is known as the sacred tank or the holy lake. The pond is located at the centre of the village of Jhankada. So why is the pond special? It is believed by the locals that the water of this pond is connected to the ancient Mahanadi River. The poet Mahakavi Sarala Das would sit by this water and wait to receive his creative inspirations. At dawn the surface of the pond looks like a sheet of silver which is indicative of the level of learning and tranquillity that is experienced in this area.
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ToggleThe Sarala Temple is a site of immense force. Unlike the many blossoming and huge temples of Purushottama (Puri), Sarala Temple is stable and very much part of the earth. It is situated in a flat green region and has a very cool breeze blowing from the river. Sarala Temple Jagatsinghpur is the only temple which features a goddess with three items in her hands (a bell, a book, and a pen). When I visited Sarala Temple, on a Tuesday in April, many students had come to have their pens and books blessed by the goddess of literature. It is an overwhelming experience to discover that the first great Odia poem originated in this place. People with a good foundation understanding of what the temple signifies have an intuitive knowledge of what the temple means to them that cannot be said by words or signs.
Of all the places in Jagatsinghpur tourist spots, Maa Sarala pitha really feels like a home to me; it’s a true sanctuary for the soul. One can experience such a strong sense of honor, dignity and respect as you walk through this holy site. People come here, like Madhab, an elderly priest who was repairing a small wooden chariot located outside the temple entrance. He didn’t really say much but he showed me honor by touching the wood and then his forehead. People here live by their emotions. They are all about using the right hand when offering food, and there’s something about the way they carry themselves that suggests they’ve developed a sense of gracefulness that seems to be unique to this community. During the winter months Jagatsinghpur families like to gather on the temple grounds for picnics.
They will sit under the trees enjoying their meals of rice and dal while sharing stories of the past. The spirit of this place teaches us to be humble and to remember that true wisdom is the most valuable asset.
Make sure to plan your trip around October through February, as the weather is usually more comfortable than during the summer months (especially very hot)! Wear simple cotton clothing and walk barefoot on the stone paths to experience the earth’s energy. If you’d like to see the full fire of the land, I recommend going for “Maha Vishuba Sankranti”, however, if you’re looking for peace, go on a Monday morning when it’s less busy! After parking your car, buy a small basket of “Chuda Ghasa” from one of the vendors at the entrance gate, then sit by the water for a while until you’re ready to continue walking. Take your time – allow the silence of the Maa Sarala pitha temple to help you release the noise in your mind.
