Biraja Temple, Jajpur – The
Temple
The Temple is facing towards
east. It consists of a square rekha vimana and a pidha jagamohana having an
antarala in between them. The vimana and antarala stand over a low platform.
The temple is Pancharatha on plan and the bada has six vertical segments in
elevation. The jagamohana has six internal pillars. The Nisha shrines are built
over the Parsvadevatas niches. The temple is enclosed by a compound wall
pierced by gateways on four sides with the main entrance (Simhadwara) on the
east.
There are idols of two lions
above elephant in front of the Temple. The vimana is decorated with a series of
four projecting lion on each raha, deulacharinis and dopichhasimhas over the
beki to support the amlasila of both the vimana and jagamohana. Sculptures of
earlier period like nayikas, Gajavidalas, amorous couple, Mahisasuramardini,
etc. are fixed on the plain bada of the jagamohana.
Presiding Deity is called as Viraja
/ Girija. She is housed in the sanctum. She is represented in the form of
Mahishasuramardhini. The Idol has two hands, spearing the chest of Mahishasura with
her right hand and holding the tail with her left hand. She tramples the demon with
her left leg and stands majestically in a pratyalidha pose. The mount lion is
conspicuous by its absence. Mahishasura is depicted as a water
buffalo. The idol's crown features Ganesha,
a crescent
moon and a Lingam.
The
presiding deity, on the basis of its iconographical features can be dated to
the Gupta period (5th century AD). There is a well near the sanctum in which
devotees perform ritual rites to their ancestors. It seems the depth of the
well is around 4 to 5 feet, but it never dried up till now. There is a separate
shrine for Bagalamukhi Devi on the right side of the sanctum.
Several images of earlier period
affixed either to the compound wall or the walls of subsidiary structures or
simply kept inside are Ardhanarishvara, Kartikeya, Aja Ekapada, Parvati,
Chamunda, Gangadharamurti, Lakulisa, Umamaheswara, Yamuna, Sarasvati, Matrikas,
Nayika images, miniature temple, hero stone, Mahisasuramardini etc.
Isanesvara Temple:
The Temple is situated within
Viraja Temple Complex. The temple can be dated to the Maratha rule i.e. the
second half of the 18th century AD. The Temple is facing towards
east. It is a living Temple. The Sanctum houses a Shiva Linga within a circular
yonipitha. The vimana is square on plan having a frontal projection and the
open mandapa is rectangular. The Vimana follows Pidha style. Idols of Mahisasuramardini,
monolithic elephant and Nandi can be found in this Temple.
Sahasra Linga Shrine – I:
The Sahasra Linga shrine – I is
located on the northeastern corner of Viraja Temple Complex at Devidwar. It is
a recently built G.I. sheet roof shrine that houses 54 Shiva Lingas made of
khandolite, sandstone and chlorite stone. The lingas can be dated to the
Somavamsi period. The Temple is facing towards west and rectangular on plan. It
is a living shrine and the presiding deities are Shiva Lingas (54 Nos).
Out of 54 Shiva Lingas, 24 are
represented as Sahasra Lingas and the rest are cylindrical lingas except one
which is a votive temple depicting a Shiva Linga in the niche of the temple.
The yonipithas of the lingas are recently made with cement. There is a fragment
of a pillar base decorated with dancing nayikas and kirtimukha designs.
Sahasra Linga Shrine – II:
The Sahasra Linga Shrine – II is
located on the northeastern corner of Viraja temple complex at Devidwar. It is
a recently built GI. sheet roof shrine that houses 37 Shiva Lingas and five
votive temples out of which four are carved with Uma – Mahesvaramurty. These
votive temples can be dated to the Somavamsi period during 11th
Century AD.
The temple is facing towards
east and rectangular on plan. The lingas are donated by devotees but the votive
temples are collected from the temple premises. It is a living shrine. The
votive temples & the lingam inside are monolithic and are hewed out of a
single boulder.
Baidyanatha Temple:
This Temple is situated on the
north-eastern corner of Viraja Temple Complex at Devidwar. The temple can be
dated to the Maratha rule i.e. the second half of the 18th century
A.D. The temple is facing towards east. The temple has a Pidha vimana of
impoverished Kalingan order. It is a living temple. The Sanctum houses a Shiva
Linga within a square Yonipitha.
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