Biraja Temple Shakti Peetha in Jajpur Odisha
Maa Biraja Temple in Jajpur Odisha is a popular religious place for Hindus. Even before the history of Jajpur was recorded Biraja Kshetra in Jajpur – a Shakti Peetha, has been worshipped as a prominent seat of Goddess Shakti.
For Hindus, Goddess Shakti forms an integral part of the social, religious and cultural life across India. Goddess Shakti also known by the name Goddess Biraja has been mentioned in religious texts like: Puranas, Stalamahatmyas and several Tantric works.
There are so many stories related to the spiritual significance of Maa Biraja Temple in Jajpur, Odisha. I have collated a guide to this important temple of Jajpur Odisha.
– How Biraja got its name
– How Biraja Kshetra became Nabhi Peetha
– How Biraja Kshetra came to be known as Nabhi Gaya
– What to See in Maa Biraja Temple
– Maa Biraja Temple Information
My sincere thanks to Odisha Tourism and Jajpur Zila for this great opportunity to visit Maa Biraja Temple. Read on to know more about this sacred destination in Odisha.
Maa Biraja Temple Jajpur
How Biraja got its name
The story of how the place got the name Biraja is related to how God Brahma performed a yajna (Vedic sacrifice) on the bank of the sacred River Baitarani invoking Goddess Parvati (the Adi Shakti).
She emerged from the Garhapatya fire of the sacrificial pit as Biraja in the form of two armed Mahishamardini trampling on the neck of the demonic buffalo Mahishasur and piercing the trident into his body. Even today She worshiped in that roopam (appearance/form) in the temple. You can see Her image in this form inside the sanctum of the main temple.
God Brahma entreated Biraja Devi to glorify the kshetra (place) by her presence. Maa Biraja Devi is worshiped in her full form as the cosmic trinity as Trishakti, that of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati here.
Shrines in Biraja Temple complex Jajpur
She occupied her position with the company of Nine Durgas, Eight Chandikas, Eight Bhairavas, Sapta Matrika, Tyrodasa Rudra, Dwadash Ganesha, Sixty eight Tirthas and Sixty four Yoginīs. The presence of all these supreme women power has made the kshetra a unique Shakti Kshetra in the country.
How Biraja Kshetra became Biraja Shakti Peeth
Another story that is related to the significance of Maa Biraja Devi Mandir as Shakti Peeth is from Dakṣa-yajna-vidhvamsana-prakaraṇa of Kālikā purāṇa.
When Daksha didn’t invite Shiva, his son-in-law, for a yagna he was conducting, calling him uncouth and not fit for the gathering, his daughter Sati felt hurt and committed suicide. God Shiva, struck with sorrow at his consort’s passing away, refused to part with the corpse.
It is mentioned in Puranas that after Sati (first wife of Shiva, who was reborn as Parvati) gave up her life in Daksha’s sacrifice, Shiva performed the Rudra Tandava with his wife’s corpse on shoulder in grief and anger.
Lion at the Entrance to Biraja Temple
God Vishnu realised that the corpse had to be taken away from Shiva to calm him down. He used his weapon Sudarshan Chakra to cut the corpse bit by bit into 51 parts that fell in different parts of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. All these places are called Shakti Peetha.
It is believed the nabhi (navel) portion of Sati Devi fell in Biraja Kshetra. Hence Jajpur is famous as Shakti Peetha. The place is also revered as Nabhi Peetha in the tantric tradition. Goddess Biraja is regarded as the Peetha Devi of this Shakti Peetha.
It is interesting to note that the Teerth Kshetras (holy places) became peethas during the medieval era. Peetha has a Tantric significance. It is a place where a sadhaka (devotee/worshipper) achieves his goal through penance, austerities and Tantric rites.
Biraja Kshetra was made a full-fledged Shakti Peetha during Bhauma-kara and Somavamsi period. The Somavamshis added a car festival or Rath Yatra with the Biraja tradition.
(A common misconception is that the temples in the Shakti Peethas have these body parts as idols or images. It is not so. Readers must understand that these are holy spots with a strong belief that has passed down since yugas.)
Map of Shakti Peetha
Other Shakti Peethas that I have visited – Kankalitala Temple, Chamundeshwari Temple, Mahishmardini Temple Bakreshwar, Danteshwari Temple, Tarapith Shakti Peeth
What to See in Maa Biraja Temple Jajpur
Biraja Temple Architectural Plan – The temple complex, Biraja Kshetra, is triangular in form. The temple of the presiding deity Maa Biraja is in the cicum centre of this triangular region. The vertices are in the western, South-eastern and North-eastern directions. Those corners are guarded by the guardian deities of the Kshetra, Shiva lingams named as Uttarsvar/Vilvesvara, Varunesvara and Kilalatesvara respectively. Jajpur district is believed to have about one crore Shiva lingams.
The present day temple stands on the foundations of old temples. These temples were built, rebuilt by kings of different dynasties in different periods of history. A temple for Biraja Devi was built here during the Gupta rule with rekha vimana and flat roofed Jagamohan.
Isaneswar Shrine in Biraja Temple complex Jajpur
When was Biraja Devi Temple built – (During my search on when was Maa Biraja Temple constructed, I got different dates. I am going by the one mentioned here as the dates seem to match with dates of Somavamshi dynasty rule.)
Candihār Yayati II of Somavamshi dynasty in the 10th – 11th century AD rebuilt the temple for Goddess Biraja. Sadly the temple was destroyed and razed down mercilessly by the Muslim invaders, during the Afghan conquest in 1568 AD. Thanks to the strong faith of the locals many rituals have been carried on undeterred.
The temple that we get to see today was built in 19th century by a local landlord, Sudarshan Mohapatra. This temple has the original padmapitha (lotus petal seat) and a pidha Jagamohan on the original Jagamohan. The Chandi mandapa is in front of the Jagamohan for the worship of recital of spiritual songs – Devi Mahatmya.
Jajpur – land of 1 crore Shiva Linga
What else to see in Biraja Temple complex – The wall of the Brahma kund (stepwell) behind the temple has sculptures dating back to different periods of history between 4th to 15th centuries.
Besides the main shrine of Maa Biraja the Other temples in the shrine are: Nabhigaya, Ishaneswara, Mrityunjyeswara, Jupeswara, Bhusandeswara, Bagalamukhi Temple, many Shiva Lingas enclosed and worshiped in different shrines.
The compound wall that goes around the temple complex was built by Saint Bhikhari Das around 110 years back. This is mentioned in the inscription found on the lintel of the door frame near the Lions Gate of the Biraja temple.
The wall includes several Bhaumakara sculptures belonging to 8th to 10th century. The lions mounted on elephants at the main gate and the intricate carvings on the main door frame are worth seeing.
The huge Bakul Tree (Spanish Cherry), considered sacred, where devotees tie sacred red threads for fulfillment of dreams. Bakul tree is considered sacred in the Hindu religion. In Ramayana, the monkey army led by Lord Hanuman uprooted Bakul trees to use as weapons against Ravana.
What to see in Biraja Temple complex Jajpur – sacred tree, intricate sculptures on door frame and the third is of the Vahana on top of a pillar. This is unique to Oriya architecture unlike other places where the deity’s vehicle have a mandapa of their own
Why is the Maa Biraja idol of Jajpur unique?
Ask one of the pujaris there to explain the Goddess’s form to you. I was lucky when one of them obliged to do so for a fee of 50 INR. The idol is covered with garlands. It is a unique idol; there is no replica of this Biraja Goddess’s idol in any other temple of India.
Maa Biraja is a two armed Mahiṣāmardinī image. She holds a trident in right hand and lifts the tail of the buffalo demon with her left hand. The front portion of the body inclining gracefully to left. She is depicted standing in a pratyaliḍha pose, her left leg bent, and foot trampling the demon, Mahishasur. She holds the trident in her right hand, piercing the demon with the trident and the tail of the buffalo in her left hand. The mount lion is not depicted, that adds to the uniqueness of the statue. This sculpted image belongs to the Gupta or pre-Gupta period.
If you can stand long enough, observe the details in her crown. There are carvings of Ganesh, Lingam, Indu and Phani.
- Ganesha (elephant headed God) – the symbol of synthesis between the Aryan and non- Aryan cultures. Ganeshji is regarded as the custodian and dispenser of knowledge and wealth, social inspiration liked and worshipped by all.
- Shiva Linga – which symbolizes procreation and productivity. Yoni symbolizes the power and receptacle of producing animate and inanimate beings, vegetations and the whole universe and the Linga is the cause of all procreation and growth.
- Indu(crescent moon) – The presence of Indu symbolizes energy and remover of all sorts of physical and mental ailments.
- Phani (Snake) – The representation of Serpent brings out the omnipotent character of a mother who puts up with all sorts of odds and balances the good and evil. Non-Āryān Naga worshippers, Vedic Āryāns, Buddhists, Jainas etc. equally regard snakes as an object of divinity.
1. The place where nabhi fell 2 Goddess Biraja in pratyaliḍha pose 3. Sacrificial altar
How Biraja Kshetra came to be known as Nabhi Gaya
This episode is in the Gayā Mahātmya section of the Vayu purāṇa
In the Svetavarāha kalpa, a very powerful demon Gayasur, a staunch devotee of God Vishnu, performed severe penance on the Kolahala Mountain for thousands of years in order to achieve utmost purity of body and mind. God answered his prayers and the demon was blessed. He attained purity and whosoever touched his body went to Vishnuloka (the abode of God Vishnu) with a liberated soul.
Gods became scared of his powers. The Yamaloka (the abode of the God of death) was desolated. All of them approached God Brahma (the creator), who sought advice from God Vishnu. At the advice of Vishnu, Brahma entreated the demon Gayasur to give away his pure body in sacrifice for a sacred ritual.
Gayasur readily agreed to the sacred ritual and immediately laid down his physical form on earth in a south-west direction. His head rested on the Kolahala Mountain beside the River Falgu (in Bihar), his nabhi (navel) on Biraja beside the River Vaitarani and his feet at Pithapuram beside the river Godavari.
Brahma performed a sacrifice on the body of Gayasur. As Gayasur’s body was unstable for performing the sacrifice, he entreated Vishnu and other Gods to help him make the body stable. Vishnu wielded his weapon Gada (mace) and made Gayasur’s body stable.
Brahma Kund (step well) of Viraja Temple Jajpur
Gayasur complained of his painful state even as he willingly submitted to the desire of the gods. Touched by his devotion, Vishnu asked him to choose a boon for offering his body for the sacrifice. Gayasur wished that Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva reside in the three places where his navel, head and feet fell as long as the earth, mountains, the sun, the moon and, the stars last and let the abodes of these three Gods turn into Pitru-tirthas. Gayasur was granted the boon.
- Vishnu remained at Gaya (Kolahala Mountain) where the head of the demon fell; Shiro Gaya.
- Brahma adorned the Biraja Kshetra (modern Jajpur) where the nabhi (navel) fell; it got the name Nabhi Gaya and Gada Kshetra. The exact spot is in a well that lies inside the Biraja temple just close to Maa Biraja.
- And Shiva was associated with Pithapuram where the feet rested; Pada Gaya.
Thus the ancient Biraja Kshetra turned into a Pitru Teertha and Nabhi Gaya evolved out of the navel of demon Gayasur.
The Biraja Khetra mahatmya tells the same story, mentioning Viraja Khetra as a Pitru-Tīrtha similar to Pada Gaya Teertha at Pithapuram in Andhra Pradesh and Mastaka Gaya Tīrtha beside the River Falgu in Magadha, the present Bihar.
Rituals and traditions in Maa Biraja Temple – The unique tradition followed here is that people after pind daan (offerings) to their ancestors at Nabhigaya must pray to Goddess Biraja to receive their oblations on behalf of their ancestors instead of praying to God Vishnu as is customary elsewhere in India.
The best period for pind daan is during the Pitr-paksha(Mahalaya) in the month of September i.e. during the dark fortnight of the month of Bhādrapada. This is one of the reasons why Nabhi Gaya is one of the best places to visit in Maa Biraja Temple Complex in Jajpur from nearby cities like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and also from West Bengal.
Sculptures and paintings on walls of Viraja Khetra
Festivals and Rituals in Biraja Temple
Biraja Kshetra is the cultural centre of modern Jajpur. Here the Goddess is worshipped in her various manifestations which has led to celebrations of many festivals and ceremonies. In course of time this has contributed to enrich the cultural fabric of the region.
- Triveni Amavasya – birth day ceremony of goddess Biraja, in the month of Magha in the lunar calendar.
- Dola Purnima is observed on the full-moon day of the month of Phalguna in the lunar calendar.
- Durga Puja – Autumnal worship of Goddess Durga, is the most important festival near Goddess Biraja at Jajpur.
- Mahasivaratri Rudrabhiseka and special worship of Lord Shiva is held in the Isanesvara temple.
- Ceremonies like marriages, mundan(shaving of head) for kids, Pitru Pooja, Tarpan, Tithi and most importantly the pind-daan ceremonies for departed souls of family are held here.
Devotees in Viraja Temple Jajpur
Open Timings of Biraja Temple
The darshan timings are from 4 AM to 1 PM and from 3 PM to 9 PM. No tickets are required to enter the temple.
What to see around Biraja Temple
You can see more temples – the Jagannath Temple of Jajpur, Barahnath Temple, Buddhist monasteries in Udayagiri and Ratnagiri. Do check out my blog – Things to Do in Jajpur Odisha.
FAQs for Biraja Temple, a Shati Peeth in Jajpur
Where is Maa Biraja Temple located?
The Biraja Shakti Peetha temple is located on the banks of River Vaitarani. Biraja temple is in Jajpur town, Jajpur district of Odisha state in India.
How to reach Biraja Devi Temple?
By road – Jajpur is well connected by road with major cities of Odisha.
By rail – The temple is 31 km away from Jajpur Keonjhar road railway station.
Nearest airport – It is about 125 km north of Bhubaneswar Airport in Odisha. You can take private vehicles to reach the temple. There are frequent state transport buses too.
Rituals in Biraja Temple
What are the other names of Goddess Biraja?
Maa Biraja Devi also called as Girija Devi, Viraja Devi
What is the dress code for Biraja Temple?
Visit after a bath and wear clean clothes to the temple. Leave footwear outside.
What are the 4 major Shakti Peethas?
Of the 51 Shakti Peethas, 4 are recognized as major Shakti Peethas in the mythological texts. They are: Tara Tarini (Stana Khanda, breasts) near Berhampur; Bimala (Pada Khanda, feet) inside the Jagannath Temple, Kamakhya (Yoni khanda female s ex organ) near Guwahati and Dakshina Kalika (Mukha khanda, face) in Kolkata.
Which body part of Sati is in Odisha?
Nabhi (Navel) of Goddess Sati fell in Jajpur, hence Jajpur is also known as Nabhi Peetha. The Devi Purana also mentions Bimala Temple within Jagannath Temple complex as Pada Peetha where the feet of Sati fell. Sati is worshipped here as Devi Vimala.
What are the 4 Kshetra in Odisha India?
Four Kshetra in Odisha are named after the four names of weapons of God Vishnu – sankha (conch shell), chakra (disc), gada (mace) and padma (lotus). Puri Dham is known as Sankha Kshetra. Bhubaneswar is Chakra Kshetra, Jajpura is Gada Kshetra, and Konark is Padma Kshetra.
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Indrani Ghose is an Indian Travel Writer and Blogger based in Bangalore, India. She has written for numerous publications across the globe – including Lonely Planet, The National UAE, Whetstone Asia, Deccan Herald. You can follow her on her social media handles Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook to see the wonderful destinations, beautiful offbeat places and get instant updates about them.
