Biraja Temple, Jajpur: History, Timings & Visitor Guide

Biraja Temple is open every day, usually from early morning to late evening with a break in the afternoon. Darshan and aarti timings change with the season and on festival days.

• MorningOpens early morning (around 5 to 6 AM)
• AfternoonShort break around midday at many temples
• EveningEvening aarti around sunset, closes by about 8 to 9 PM

Ask the temple office on arrival for the day's aarti schedule.

Dress Code & Temple Rules

• DressModest, traditional clothes covering shoulders and knees
• FootwearRemove before entering; use the shoe stand
• PhotographyNot allowed inside the sanctum
• Not AllowedLeather items, tobacco, alcohol, non-veg food
• QueueFollow queue lines and staff instructions on festival days

The Brahmayamala Tantra has a hymn, "Ādya Stōtra", dedicated to Shakti. In the hymn, Vimala is the goddess of Puri and Viraja (Girija) is the goddess worshipped in the Utkala kingdom, which became Odisha.

According to the Tantra Cūḍamaṇi, Sati's navel fell in the Utkala kingdom, also known as "Virajā Kṣētra". Adi Shankara, in his Aṣṭadaśa Śakti Pīṭha Stuti describes the goddess as Girija. In Tantra literature, the Ōḍḍiyāna Pīṭha (Devanagari: ओड्डियान पीठ) is located in eastern India near the Baitarani River (an Oddiyana is an ornament worn by a woman around her navel).

There is a separate shrine for Shri Bagalamukhi Devi, which is right of Maa Biraja. One can find very few temples for this rūpa of Daśamahāvidyā.

Festivals & Rituals at Biraja Temple

The primary ritual in the temple is Sharadiya Durga Puja, which begins on the night of Krishna Paksha Ashtami. This falls before Mahalaya, and ends on Ashwin Shukla Paksha Navami. The puja, known as Shodasha Dinatatmika Puja, lasts for 16 days. The ratha (chariot festival) is known as Simhadhwaja, and its flag bears a lion. During the lunar transition from Shukla Ashtami to Shukla Navami an animal sacrifice, Bali Dāna, is performed. Navratri is celebrated as Aparajita Puja.

Other festivals include Nakshatra, Shravana, Prathamastami, Maha Bishuba (i.e., Pana) Sankranti, Raja Parva and Navanna. Devi is worshipped daily in accordance with Tantra and Agama traditions as Mahishasuramardini by the Brahmins of Jajpur.