Biraja Temple
Encyclopedia
Viraja Temple or Viraja Kshetra ,(Devnagari:विरजा क्षेत्र) or Oddyana Peetha, (Devnagari:ओड़्याण पीठ, Oriya
:ଓଡ୍ଡ୍ୟାଣ ପୀଠ),(Oriya
:ବିରଜା ମନ୍ଦିର) is one of the ancient Hindu temple
s located in the Jajpur district of Orissa, India. This present temple was built in 13th century. It is situated in the Jajpur township which is nearly 125 KM north from Bhubaneswar. The main idol
is Devi Durga who is worshiped by the name Viraja.The idol is having two hands(dwibhuja),in one hand she pierces the chest of Mahishasura
with a spear and in other hand she pulls the tail of the Mahishasura
.The Durga
idol is standing on Lion
in one leg and other leg is on Mahishasura
chest.The Mahishasura
is depicted as a Buffalo
, not as regular human demon.The crown of Devi
has symbol of Ganesha
, Crescent moon
and a Shivalinga.The temple covers a large area, and it has several Shiva
linga and other deities. Jajpur is also known as Viraja Kshetra or Biraja Peetha.According to Skanda Purana
,utkala khanda it washes all rajo guna
of pilgrims
.So called as Viraja or Biraja kshetra.
.In that hymn it is stated that Vimala is the shakti in Purusottama Kshetra and Viraja is the shakti worshipped in Odra Desha,which is latter known as Orissa.
"रामेश्वरी सेतुबन्धे विमला पुरुषोत्तमे
विरजा ओड्रदेशे च कामाक्ष्या नीलपर्वते ॥"
"[आद्या स्तोत्र-ब्रह्म यामल तन्त्रम्]"
It is believed that sati's navel also fell here as Tantra Chudamani says that the navel fell in Utkala which is called Viraja kshetra.Adi Shankara
in his Ashtadasha shakti peetha stuti describes this peetha as Oddiyana Peetha and the goddess as Girija.Here is the verse from his Ashtadasha shakti peetham.
http://sekharnpc-howjyothirlingascanbe14.blogspot.com/2009/09/18-shakti-peeth-ashta-dasha-shakti.html
"उज्जनिन्यां महाकाली पीठिकायां पुरुहुतिका
ओड़्याणे गिरिजा देवी माणिक्य दक्ष वाटिके॥"
As per many Tantra books the Oddiyana Peetha(Devnagari:ओड़्याण पीठ) is located in eastern India near Vaitarani river.The place siginifies its name.Oddiyana is a ornament worn by women around navel,as the navel fell down here the area surrounding the peetha is called Oddyana Peetha,and the land is known as Odra Desha.
Other festivals include Devi's own Nakshatra
, Shravana
which falls on Amavasya of Purnimanta month of Maagha
, Prathamastami
, Pana Sankranti, Raja Parva
and Navanna.
The daily worship to devi is done as depicted in Tantra
and Agama
. She is worshipped as Mahishasuramardini by Brahmins of Jajpur.
is having mouth of Gayasura (Shirogaya) & the navel is in Jajpur inside Biraja Temple. Whereas padagaya (legs of gayasura) is in Pithapuram
of Andhra Pradesh
. God Brahma
did 10 Ashwamedha yajna
here on the bank of Baitarani Or Vaitarani. It is called as Dakshina(south) Vedi of Brahma
. Others being Gaya
(east); Kurukshetra
, (north); Pushkar
, (west) & Prayag Allahbad, (centre) according to Vamana Purana
. Many pilgrims gather here for Shraaddha
during Mahalaya. A Holy dip commenses in Vaitarani river on the day of Chaitra
krishna chaturdasi called as Varuni Snan Yoga. It becomes auspicious if the day is saturday
and the star is Shatabhisha
.
The nearest rail head is Byasanagar
or jajpur keonjhar road on chennai-howrah railway.
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
:ଓଡ୍ଡ୍ୟାଣ ପୀଠ),(Oriya
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
:ବିରଜା ମନ୍ଦିର) is one of the ancient Hindu temple
Hindu temple
A Mandir, Devalayam, Devasthanam, or a Hindu temple is a place of worship for followers of Hinduism...
s located in the Jajpur district of Orissa, India. This present temple was built in 13th century. It is situated in the Jajpur township which is nearly 125 KM north from Bhubaneswar. The main idol
Cult image
In the practice of religion, a cult image is a human-made object that is venerated for the deity, spirit or daemon that it embodies or represents...
is Devi Durga who is worshiped by the name Viraja.The idol is having two hands(dwibhuja),in one hand she pierces the chest of Mahishasura
Mahishasura
In Hindu mythology, Mahishasura was an asura.Mahishasura's father Rambha was king of the asuras, and he once fell in love with a water buffalo ; Mahishasura was born out of this union...
with a spear and in other hand she pulls the tail of the Mahishasura
Mahishasura
In Hindu mythology, Mahishasura was an asura.Mahishasura's father Rambha was king of the asuras, and he once fell in love with a water buffalo ; Mahishasura was born out of this union...
.The Durga
Durga
For the 1985 Hindi Film of Rajesh Khanna see DurgaaIn Hinduism, Durga ; ; meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; , durga) or Maa Durga "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having eighteen arms, riding a lion...
idol is standing on Lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
in one leg and other leg is on Mahishasura
Mahishasura
In Hindu mythology, Mahishasura was an asura.Mahishasura's father Rambha was king of the asuras, and he once fell in love with a water buffalo ; Mahishasura was born out of this union...
chest.The Mahishasura
Mahishasura
In Hindu mythology, Mahishasura was an asura.Mahishasura's father Rambha was king of the asuras, and he once fell in love with a water buffalo ; Mahishasura was born out of this union...
is depicted as a Buffalo
Water Buffalo
The water buffalo or domestic Asian water buffalo is a large bovine animal, frequently used as livestock in southern Asia, and also widely in South America, southern Europe, northern Africa, and elsewhere....
, not as regular human demon.The crown of Devi
Devi
Devī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents...
has symbol of Ganesha
Ganesha
Ganesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
, Crescent moon
Lunar phase
A lunar phase or phase of the moon is the appearance of the illuminated portion of the Moon as seen by an observer, usually on Earth. The lunar phases change cyclically as the Moon orbits the Earth, according to the changing relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun...
and a Shivalinga.The temple covers a large area, and it has several Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
linga and other deities. Jajpur is also known as Viraja Kshetra or Biraja Peetha.According to Skanda Purana
Skanda Purana
The Skanda Purana is the largest Mahapurana, a genre of eighteen Hindu religious texts. The text is devoted mainly to the lilas of Kartikeya , a son of Shiva and Parvati. It also contains a number of legends about Shiva, and the holy places associated with him...
,utkala khanda it washes all rajo guna
of pilgrims
Pilgrims
Pilgrims , or Pilgrim Fathers , is a name commonly applied to early settlers of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States...
.So called as Viraja or Biraja kshetra.
Viraja Temple in Tantra
The Brahmayamala Tantra has a hymn Aadya Stotra dedicated to Goddess ShaktiShakti
Shakti from Sanskrit shak - "to be able," meaning sacred force or empowerment, is the primordial cosmic energy and represents the dynamic forces that are thought to move through the entire universe in Hinduism. Shakti is the concept, or personification, of divine feminine creative power, sometimes...
.In that hymn it is stated that Vimala is the shakti in Purusottama Kshetra and Viraja is the shakti worshipped in Odra Desha,which is latter known as Orissa.
"रामेश्वरी सेतुबन्धे विमला पुरुषोत्तमे
विरजा ओड्रदेशे च कामाक्ष्या नीलपर्वते ॥"
"[आद्या स्तोत्र-ब्रह्म यामल तन्त्रम्]"
It is believed that sati's navel also fell here as Tantra Chudamani says that the navel fell in Utkala which is called Viraja kshetra.Adi Shankara
Adi Shankara
Adi Shankara Adi Shankara Adi Shankara (IAST: pronounced , (Sanskrit: , ) (788 CE - 820 CE), also known as ' and ' was an Indian philosopher from Kalady of present day Kerala who consolidated the doctrine of advaita vedānta...
in his Ashtadasha shakti peetha stuti describes this peetha as Oddiyana Peetha and the goddess as Girija.Here is the verse from his Ashtadasha shakti peetham.
http://sekharnpc-howjyothirlingascanbe14.blogspot.com/2009/09/18-shakti-peeth-ashta-dasha-shakti.html
"उज्जनिन्यां महाकाली पीठिकायां पुरुहुतिका
ओड़्याणे गिरिजा देवी माणिक्य दक्ष वाटिके॥"
As per many Tantra books the Oddiyana Peetha(Devnagari:ओड़्याण पीठ) is located in eastern India near Vaitarani river.The place siginifies its name.Oddiyana is a ornament worn by women around navel,as the navel fell down here the area surrounding the peetha is called Oddyana Peetha,and the land is known as Odra Desha.
Rituals and Festivals
Main ritual in this temple is Sharadiya Durga Puja which starts from Krishna Paksha Ashtami night which falls before Mahalaya and ends on Ashwin Shukla Paksha Navami. The total Puja continues for 16 days, which is called Shodasha dinatatmika Puja. The Rath Yatra of Devi's utsava murty is done during Mahashtami and Mahanavami. The Ratha(Chariot Festival) is named as Simhadhwaja (having the flag symbol of Lion). During the transition of lunar phase from Shukla Ashtami to Shukla Navami the special animal Sacrifice is performed which is called Bali Daanam. The day of Dussehra is celebrated as Aparajita Puja.Other festivals include Devi's own Nakshatra
Nakshatra
Nakshatra is the term for lunar mansion in Hindu astrology. A nakshatra is one of 27 sectors along the ecliptic...
, Shravana
Shravana
Shravana is the 22nd nakshatra or lunar mansion as used in Hindu astronomy and astrology. It belongs to the constellation Makara or Capricorn....
which falls on Amavasya of Purnimanta month of Maagha
Maagha
Maagha is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Maagh is the eleventh month of the year, beginning in January and ending in February....
, Prathamastami
Prathamastami
Prathamastami is a rite is held in Orissa, India, for the life and prosperity of the eldest child who is offered a lighted lamp ovation by the senior female relatives followed by elaborate rituals during which the Mantras are recited...
, Pana Sankranti, Raja Parva
Raja Parva
Raja Parba or Mithuna Sankranti is a four day long festival and the second day signifies beginning of the solar month of Mithuna from, which the season of rains starts...
and Navanna.
The daily worship to devi is done as depicted in Tantra
Tantra
Tantra , anglicised tantricism or tantrism or tantram, is the name scholars give to an inter-religious spiritual movement that arose in medieval India, expressed in scriptures ....
and Agama
Āgama (Hinduism)
Agama means, in the Hindu context, "a traditional doctrine, or system which commands faith".In Hinduism, the Agamas are a collection of Sanskrit scriptures which are revered and followed by millions of Hindus.-Significance:...
. She is worshipped as Mahishasuramardini by Brahmins of Jajpur.
Nabhi Gaya
It is heard from Puranas that GayaGaya, India
Gaya is the second largest city of Bihar, India, and it is also the headquarters of Gaya District.Gaya is 100 kilometers south of Patna, the capital city of Bihar. Situated on the banks of Falgu River , it is a place sanctified by both the Hindu and the Buddhist religions...
is having mouth of Gayasura (Shirogaya) & the navel is in Jajpur inside Biraja Temple. Whereas padagaya (legs of gayasura) is in Pithapuram
Pithapuram
For famous Playback singer see Pithapuram Nageswara RaoPithapuram is a town and a municipality in East Godavari district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh....
of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
. God Brahma
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the...
did 10 Ashwamedha yajna
Yajna
In Hinduism, yajna is a ritual of sacrifice derived from the practice of Vedic times. It is performed to please the gods or to attain certain wishes...
here on the bank of Baitarani Or Vaitarani. It is called as Dakshina(south) Vedi of Brahma
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the...
. Others being Gaya
Gaya, India
Gaya is the second largest city of Bihar, India, and it is also the headquarters of Gaya District.Gaya is 100 kilometers south of Patna, the capital city of Bihar. Situated on the banks of Falgu River , it is a place sanctified by both the Hindu and the Buddhist religions...
(east); Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra is a land of historical and religious importance. Historically the land belonged to Punjab now a district in Haryana state of India. It is a holy place and is also known as Dharmakshetra . According to the Puranas, Kurukshetra is named after King Kuru, the ancestor of Kauravas and...
, (north); Pushkar
Pushkar
Pushkar is a town in the Ajmer district in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is situated at 14 km North West from Ajmer at an average elevation of 510 metres , and is one of the five sacred dhams...
, (west) & Prayag Allahbad, (centre) according to Vamana Purana
Vamana Purana
The Vamana Purana, , one of the eighteen Mahapuranas, a genre of Hindu religious texts, is devoted to the Vamana Avatar of Vishnu. It has a eulogy praising both Vishnu and Shiva....
. Many pilgrims gather here for Shraaddha
Shraaddha
Śrāddha or Shraaddha is a Sanskrit word which literally means anything or any act that is performed with all sincerity and faith . In the Hindu religion, it is the ritual that one performs to pay homage to one’s 'ancestors' , especially to one’s dead parents...
during Mahalaya. A Holy dip commenses in Vaitarani river on the day of Chaitra
Chaitra
Chaitra is a month of the Hindu calendar....
krishna chaturdasi called as Varuni Snan Yoga. It becomes auspicious if the day is saturday
Saturday
Saturday is the day of the week following Friday and preceding Sunday.Saturday is the last day of the week on many calendars and in conventions that consider the week as beginning on Sunday, or the sixth day of the week according to international standard ISO 8601 which was first published in...
and the star is Shatabhisha
Shatabhisha
Shatabhisha, also known as Chathayam or Sadayam , or Shatabhishak or Shatataraka is the 24th nakshatra in Hindu astronomy. It corresponds to the star γ Aquarii...
.
The nearest rail head is Byasanagar
Byasanagar
vyasanagar, also called Jajpur Road is a city and a municipality in Jajapur district in the state of Orissa, India.-Demographics: India census, vyasanagar had a population of 37,609. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. vyasanagar has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than...
or jajpur keonjhar road on chennai-howrah railway.