Bhubaneswar, March 12: The last living female servitor of Lord Jagannath, devdasi Sashimani Devi, has taken seriously ill.

The 92-year-old was given financial aid by the culture department today.

She has breathing problems and her face and hands have swollen up. "She is completely bedridden and is hardly able to speak," said her disciple, Mahari danseuse Rupashree Mohapatra.

The state government has given Rs 25,000 for her treatment. Culture department secretary Arabind Padhee and Puri collector Aravind Agarwal visited her today to inquire about her health.

Mohapatra said the devdasi had not received enough financial assistance from the government and the help had come quite late.

"She had dedicated her life to the Lord since the age of seven. With her death, the 1,000-year-old devadasi tradition of the temple will come to an end. She deserved more attention," said Mohapatra.

Sashimani Devi, who stays in the house of her adopted son Somnath Pujapanda, receives Rs 1,000 from the state government every month.

Devdasis or temple ritual dancers of the Puri Jagannath temple used to stage songs and dance performances on various special occasions at the temple. These women remain unmarried throughout their lives and assumed the role of the Lord's companion and consort. The devadasi dancers used to adopt girls as their daughters to continue with the traditions, but Sashimani Devi has not adopted any girl. However, she taught Mohapatra the Mahari dance that she used to perform for Lord Jagannath.

Mohapatra said the nonagenarian wishes that her death comes before Nabakalebar.

"She has dedicated her life to the Lord and feels she wants to depart before the Lord's funeral is conducted," said the danseuse.

The last devadasi has served four Nabakalebars.