Biraja Temple, Jajpur – The Temple

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 (5^th 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 18^th 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 11^th 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 18^th 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.