Huma Mandir, Orissa, IN

Deities: Lord Shiva
Location: Sambalpur, Orissa
Built in: 1670Built by: Baliar Singh
Best time to visit: October to April
STD Code: 0663

Huma Temple:- World's another Leaning Tower of Pisa

Sambalpur District is the westernmost district in the state of Orissa, India. Sambalpur is an illustrious place that is known for the Hirakud dam, the largest dam of not only India, but the whole world. Some of the features that best describe the district are its gorgeous waterfalls, rich cultural heritage; the historic city of Sambalpur is the district headquarters. As it does not stand upright and is tilted towards one side. Infect, almost everything within the temple complex is skewed.

The leaning temple of Huma about 25 km from Sambalpur. Located on the banks of the Mahanadi, the 17th century temple of Huma leans at an angle of 47 degrees to the west. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. One of the Gods forming the Hindu Trinity. The special type of fish found here is called as 'Kudo' fish. They are said to be so tame that they will eat sweets and other foods from the hands of devotee who bathe close to the temple. During auspicious days they are called by their names and given the 'Prasad' of the God. Here nobody tries to catch them as they are believed to be the assets of the God.

It was built in the reign of Baliar Singh, the fifth Raja of Sambalpur. The worship of Shiva is said to have been initiated by a milkman (Gauda), who daily crossed the Mahanadi to a place on the bank where the underlying rock croped out. Here he daily offered his dole of milk, which was at once drunk up by the rock, and this miraculous circumstance led to enquiries, which ended in the construction of the present temple. Huma is a place of pilgrimage, and is also visited by strangers out of curiosity to see the different kind of fish in the river.

Architecture:
Now about the main point of attraction i.e. the tilted structure of temple. The surprising thing is, the main temple tilted to one direction and other small temples tilted to some other direction. And within the temple complex i.e. within the boundaries of temple, everything found to be in tilted condition including the boundaries. Now again the angle of inclination is not changed since last 40/50 years as said by the villagers and priests. However the structure is tilted may be due to some geological reason, may be the earth crust is un-even in structure. About the inclination, it’s not possible to judge whether the angle is in an increasing trend or not. For that some sort of measurement mechanism should be given to analyse it very correctly as it is done in leaning tower of Pissa.The architecture in the district attracts the people of all over world because of its unique designs.

Festival:
A great fair takes place at the foothill in March every year on the occasion of Shivratri. The presiding diety is Bimaleswar Shiva.

Other holy places in Orissa:
Jagannath Temple
Sarala of Jhankad
Panchalingeswhar
Akhandalamani Temple
Charchika Banki
Dhavaleswar
Baladevjew
Vaidyanath
Kapilas
Nilamadhava Temple

How to reach:
by Air: the nearest airport is Bhubaneswar
by Rail: There are plenty of express trains that connect Sambalpur with major cities in Orissa
by Road: Buses and taxis are also easily available from Sambalpur for travelling to the neighbouring cities.

Visit www.eTirth.com for more information on Temples, Ashrams, Gurus, Festival and Daily Panchangam (Hindu ephemeris).

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