Dhenkanal is the place where the fertile soil for all religious sects and philosophies is available. Rightly from its inception to the present days, testimony is eloquent that , the Hindu sects like Baisnvism, Saivasism, Saktism etc flourished. Besides that ,Buddhism to some extent also found a place of adoration. Mahima cult originated and spreaded from this place.

a)     Saibism:

    Saivism found a fertile ground in the district of Dhenkanal. Shiva is worshipped in many a names in the temples seattered throughout the district. There are some eminent shiva temples which bear testimony to the fact. Sri Chandrasekhar at Kapilash, Sri Biswanath at Kapilash, Sri Naganatheswar at Nagana,Sri Annakoteswar at Latadeipur, Sri Kanakeswar at Nadhera, Sri Kamleswar at Kamalanga, Sri Bhudeswar at Bhuban, Sri Biswanatheswar at Ramashankarpur, Sri Paschimeswar at Bhapur, Sri Daudeswar and Kapilesar at Karamul, Sri Rameswar at Tentulisingha and Sri Kapileswar at Hatuari in K.Nagar. Sri Kumbheswar at Depara. Besides that , there are some Siva temples located at Ganeshkhola, at Aswakhola, at Jibankhola and in the heart of Dhenkanal town.

b)    Baisnavism: It relates to the worship of Lord Vshnu and His incarnations. Dhenkanal district has a great impact on Baishnava sect. Rightly from the resurgense of vaishnavism in India. Sridhar swami a Vaishnava saint settled at Kapilash  and wrote the commentary of Srimat Bhagavatam in Sanskrit. The image of Nrishinga at Kapilash, the temple of Sri Narayana, the Saligram in the santum of Kapilash temple, the foot print of Sri Gauranga, Sri patitapavana Jaganath image in the temple of Lord Chandrasekhar signifies the Baisnava cult's florishment in Dhenkanal.

The cult further developed by the royal patronage of the kings. Harisingh vidyadhar constructed Sidha Balarama temple at Dhenkanal and which was subsequently completed by Nrusingha Bhamarbar . Sri Chaitanya while proceeding to the Jharkand had halted at Shambhu Gopal matha and also visited the cemetery of Sridharswami. The advent of Goudiya Vaishnavism or the Bhakti cult created an epoch in the spiritual history of the district. After wards Baishnavism flourished under the patronage of the royal dynasty. Raja Kunjabehari was a baishnava who wrote ‘Premsheela’a spiritual kabya. Kabi Brajanath wrote Keli kalanidhi, Gopibilapa and many other baishnav kabyas. Maharaj Bahgiratha Mohindra Bahadur entrusted the holy responsibility of dieties to Baba Sitarama Das. He also erected the wooden mandap at Kapilas, Japa mandap , the kitchen at kapilas. Rajarshi Surapratap spearheaded the spiritual field. He created Debottar Dept. for Dhenkanal and appointed Sri Parvati Charan Das as the magistrate. He erected Jaganath temple in the premises of Lord Balaram temple, initiated car festival , erected gundicha temple. Constructed Jay Gopal temple and the famous Kunjakanta temple at Dhenkanal.

c)     Shaktism: Side by side along with saivism and Baishnavism, Shaktism or the worship of Shakti the Mother- manifested. The Parvati image at Kapilas, Brahmani Devi temple, Dhakinakali temple, Ma Sundarsuni and Ma Jenadei at Dhenkanal proves that the practice of mother worship is still in force. Dhenkanal has a martial tradition and the rural milisia namely the ‘Paikas’ are the traditional warriers who worship  goddess Durga. Hence in different part of the district we find Shakti temples and vituals. The Stambeswari at Kualo, Ramachandi, on Brahmini bank , Sukia Bauti temple at Hindol etc are famous Shaktipithas.