Biraja Devi Shakti Peeth --- Jaipur

*** Biraja Devi Shakti Peeth --- Jaipur ***

The Shri Biraja Devi Temple of Jaipur in Orissa , India, is 11th Shakti Peethas listed in puranas. The present temple was built in the 13th century. The place is indicated by its name; Oddiyana is an ornament worn by women around the navel, and as the navel fell here the area surrounding the peetha is called Oddyana Peetha, and the land is known as Odra Desha.

The main idol is Devi Durga who is worshiped by the name of Viraja (Girija). This earned Jajpur the name Viraja Kshetra or Biraja Peetha. The Durga idol has two hands (dwibhuja); with one hand she pierces the chest of Mahishasura using a spear and with the other hand she pulls his tail. She rests one foot on the lion and the other foot on Mahishasura's chest. Mahishasura is depicted as a Buffalo rather than a regular human demon. The crown of the idol has symbols of Ganesha, the crescent moon and a Shiva linga.

According to Skanda Purana's Utkala khanda, it washes away the rajo guna of pilgrims. Hence it is called the Viraja or Biraja kshetra. It is believed that Jajpur has one less than one crore of Shiva lingas. It is a typical to Puri of Sri Jagannath as it is called the Pitru tirtha in ancient India. The only place where Dashashwamedha Yajna was organized by the then Jajati Kesari.