The Biraja Temple also called Girija Khetra is a historic Hindu temples located in Jajpur, Odisha, India which is 162 km from Capital Bhubaneswar. Maa Biraja Devi temple is one of the 18 Shaktipeeth and occupies an important shaktee peeth of Odisha and occupies important place the tourist map of Odisha. This place is also called Odihayad Peetham or Nabhi Gaya. Nabhi ( Navel ) of Sati devi fell here.
The present temple was built during the 13th century. The principal idol is Devi Durga, who is worshiped as Viraja (Girija), and the temple gave Jajpur the nicknames “Viraja Kshetra” and “Biraja Peetha” an important temples in Odisha. The Durga idol has two hands (dwibhuja), spearing the chest of Mahishasura with one hand and pulling his tail with the other hand. One of her feet is on a lion, and the other is on Mahishasura’s chest.
Mahishasura is depicted as a water buffalo. The idol’s crown features Ganesha, a crescent moon and a lingam. A large area of temple covers several shrines of Shiva and other deities. According to the Skanda Purana it cleanses pilgrims, and it is called the Viraja or the Biraja kshetra. Jajpur is believed to have about one crore of Shiva lingams. So, it occupies important tourist places of Odisha.