Maa Biraja Temple: A Sacred Shakti Peeth in Jajpur, Odisha

Jajpur district, located about 90 km from Odisha’s capital Bhubaneswar, is home to the revered Maa Biraja Temple. The presiding goddess, Maa Biraja, is worshipped here, and the region is known as Viraj or Biraja Kshetra. According to the Skanda Purana, the navel of Mata Sati fell at this site, marking it as a highly sacred place. A deep well, believed to be the navel of the earth, exists here, and during Navratri, devotees perform Pind Daan for their ancestors using its water.

Gopalan Krishnan, a devotee from Andhra Pradesh, shared that he had come to offer Pind Daan for his father, considering this Shakti Peeth as significant as Prayagraj and Gaya. Gyan Ranjanpati, a trustee member of the temple, mentioned that the glory of the Biraja Kshetra is detailed in the first part of the Skanda Purana.

Unique Rituals and Offerings at Maa Biraja Temple

During Navratri, Maa Biraja is adorned with 15 different saris and approximately 1.5 to 2 kg of gold jewelry daily, making the temple a sight of divine grandeur. This Maa Biraja Temple is the only Shakti Peeth where Pind Daan is performed. Despite extreme temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius, thousands of devotees visit the temple during Chaitra Navratri. The goddess is offered vegetable curry with rabri in the afternoon and potato bharta with milk in the evening.

The temple, built in the 13th century, holds immense historical and religious significance. It is believed that Goddess Parvati performed penance here to reunite with Lord Shiva. As a result, the temple houses not only Maa Biraja but also 108 Shivlingas that have been worshipped for over 800 years.

The Sacred Nabhigaya Well and the Legend of Gayasur

The well known as Nabhigaya is considered the navel of the earth. According to legend, the navel of the demon Gayasur, a devout follower of Lord Vishnu, fell here after his demise. This belief draws thousands of devotees who come to perform Pind Daan at this holy site. Among the 51 Shakti Peethas, this is the only place where such ancestral rituals are conducted.

Currently, the temple sees an influx of 15,000 to 30,000 visitors daily, mostly from Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, and West Bengal. The idol of Maa Biraja is unique, as it features intricate carvings of Lord Shiva, Ganpati, Shakti, Nagraj, and the Moon on her forehead.

The Two-Armed Mahishasuramardini Form of Maa Biraja

Unlike the usual depictions of Maa Durga with eight or twelve arms, Maa Biraja is portrayed as a two-armed goddess in her Mahishasuramardini form. Local belief holds that the spiritual merit obtained by spending eight days in Kashi or one day at the temple of Mahaprabhu Jagannath can be attained with just a single visit to Maa Biraja’s temple.

Daily Rituals and Devotee Gatherings

Head priest Ramchandra Pani shared that on regular days, the temple opens at 5:30 AM, while during Navratri, Mangala Aarti is conducted as early as 4:00 AM, drawing a large number of devotees. The Maa Biraja Temple also features 40 types of Shringar (adornments) throughout the day, adding to its divine splendor. On Dussehra, around 30,000 devotees gather to seek blessings from the Dwibhuja Maa in Jajpur, Odisha, where the sacred navel of Mata Sati is believed to have fallen.