Rath Yatra-A Journey to the God

Birja Devi Temple is the 18th Shaktipeeth of the country, where the navel of Goddess Sati had fallen. This place is in Jajpur, Odisha is the only Shaktipeeth in the country where goddess Mahishasura Mardini with two arms.

Devi Prasad Pani, the chief priest of the temple said that a gold crown worth approximately Rs20 lakh will be donated to the temple on October 18th.

Every year, the south-facing goddess idol made of Ashtadhatu sits on the chariot Singhdhwaj. The Rath Yatra starts after worshiping her.

It is made of red, white and black cloth. These clothes are symbols of Goddess Lakshmi, Saraswati and Kali. Lord Brahma is made to sit on this chariot as the charioteer.

Aparajita Puja is performed on the last day of Navratri. Then the goddess kills Mahishasura. After this, the goddess's chariot goes to Lakhbindha ground. Where the goddess is worshiped in epidemic form at midnight.

A special type of beverage is offered to the Goddess in this puja. After the puja is over the goddess again returns to the temple.

For nine days, pulses, vegetables, khichdi and kheer are offered in different adornments and offerings. The mother is adorned differently every day for these nine days.

Due to Tantra Peetha, the worship of the Mother Goddess starts at night. Therefore, every date here falls a day before. So, Dussehra is also celebrated a day earlier. This time it will be celebrated here on the 23rd.

Here Maa Birja is revered in her full cosmic trinity form as Trishakti i.e. Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. According to Hindu mythology, Mother Birja was born on the day of Paush i.e. Triveni Amavasya. On that day, there is a tradition of special anointment of the Mother Goddess with Gayatri Mantra.

The name of Goddess Girija is mentioned in this 18th Shaktipeeth in Skanda, Vayu, Brahmanda, Brahma Purana and Mahabharata. The temple is sitauted to near the Baitarani river but due to language changes, the name of the goddess was called Birja. This is Tantra Shaktipeeth. That's why there is a tradition of Bali here.

In the sanctum sanctorum of the temple built in the 13th century, the goddess riding on a lion has a spear in one hand and the tail of Mahishasura in the other. The crown of the goddess has Ganesha, Moon, Vasuki serpent and Shivalinga. The idol of the goddess is believed to be from the 8th century.