Biraja Temple

Biraja Temple is a prominent Hindu Shakti Temple located in Jajpur town, Jajpur district, Odisha, on the banks of the Vaitarani River. Dedicated to Goddess Biraja, an incarnation of Durga, it is revered as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas and as Nabhi Gaya. Built in the 13th century in Kalinga architectural style, the temple features stone carvings, a large courtyard and subsidiary shrines, attracting pilgrims and visitors year-round.

Visitors can expect a large walled temple complex built in Kalinga architectural style with stone carvings, a central sanctum housing the two-armed idol of Goddess Biraja slaying Mahishasura, and numerous subsidiary shrines dedicated to Shiva and other deities. The complex includes open courtyards, a temple tank, and shops for prasad and offerings. Priests conduct daily aarti and rituals, and the nearby Vaitarani River and ghats are accessible for ritual activities.

The present Biraja Temple is dated to the 13th century and attributed to the Eastern Ganga dynasty, built in Kalinga architectural style. The site is identified as ancient Girija Kshetra and Viraja Kshetra mentioned in the Brahma Purana and other texts. It is counted among the 51 Shakti Peethas, believed to be where the navel of Goddess Sati fell, and has been a major centre of Shaktism in Odisha for centuries.

The temple is dedicated to Goddess Biraja, the presiding deity of Jajpur, and is revered as Nabhi Gaya, one of the three important Gaya pilgrimage sites for ancestral rites. It is a major Shakti pilgrimage centre where Durga Puja, Navratri and Pitru Paksha rituals draw large numbers of devotees. The temple is central to the religious identity of Jajpur and Odishan Shakta traditions.