Jajapur district General information
History
From time immorial Jajpur has been identical with Viraja or Viraja Khetra. The place sacred to Viraja, the symbol of Sakti(Power) on one side and Verah, the symbol of Brahma or Purusha on the other side is one of the traditional Pancha khetras in Orissa dedicated to Brahmanical Pancha Khetras. As a seat of ancient culture and a holy shrine for Hindus it was once studded with scores of ancient stone temples as in the temple town of Bhubaneswar . But it witnessed and bore the burnt of the Vandalism of the invaders from the North , who destroyed the temples and palaces . But in and around the surviving temples and the temples built after the mass destruction we come across a large number of sculptures ranging in date from the 4rth century , which not only stand as the milestone of art and architecture of the place but also provide us with ample materials to reconstruct a cultural history of Orissa.
The iconographical features of goddes Viraja support such a conclusion about its date. The Paralakhemundi copper place of Prithivi Maharaja mentions Viraja as Viranja. The date ascribed to this plate has been 6th century AD. But the Mahabharata which was composed in the 3rd century mentions in its Banaparva in 114th chapter about Viraja and the sacred Baitarani where the five Pandav brothers had their holy dip with Lomash the saint. The date of the origin of goddess may safely be attributed to the 3rd century.
A new political situation developed with the rise of the Bhaumakaras in 736 AD . the Bahumaker empire extended from the Ganges in the North to the Mahendra mountain on the south . the Bhaumas ruled over two centuries with their capital at Guheswar Patak in Viraja Khestra. Khijinga Mandal of the Bhaumas comprised modern Mayurbhanja, eastern part of Keonjhar , some portion of Dhenkanal and the modern Jajpur and Bhadrak districts. Though a great deal of geographical political and social changes have taken place since, the cultural tie of the regions is still conspicuous as the people of the region still perform their social functions and rituals in accordance with Viraja Panjika approved by the learned astologers and scholars (Pundits) of Jajpur. Brodly speaking Orissa was mainly divided into two cultural units the one centering round Viraja khetra and the other round Shrikhetra. As in Puri there was also the Mukti Mandap and Pundit Sava at Jajpur and the ruins still bear testimony to it.
The two powerful dynasties , Bhaumas and Somavansis reigned over the whole land mass of modern Orissa for almost four centuries from 8th to 11th century and saw the formative period of life and culture or Orissan people . the period is indeed a remarkable epoch.
The king Suvakar Dev(I) of Bhaumas dynasty who wrote a religious text in his own hand and send it to his contemporary Chinese empire was the pioneer for establishing relations with neighboring countries and also patronized sea trade.
Budhism and Jainism were still in affluent in Orissa as known from the accounts of Hieun Tsang, the famous Chinese piligrim who visited Puspagiri Bihar in the precincts of Jajpur in 639. Tantrayan Sprang upon the decadence of Budhism towards the 8th Century. the Kubija Tantra describes Viraja as the Maheswari of Uddiyan.
The Somabansi King Jajati Keshari made Jajpur his capital performed the historic Dasaswamedh Yajna in 10th century. Jajpur was not only the capital of two important dynasties but also has contributed a lot to the synthesis of different regions which flourished in Orissa for centuries past.
The place where the Barahjew temple complex lies, is conspicuously noted for the picturesque surroundings with the river , Baitarani branching off on both the sides of it. The main temple ,a massive structure , comprises the sanctum , Jagamohan in Pidha style. A major portion of the Mukti Mandap has been buried under the pile of sand. Three boar faced deities designed in black chlorite slabs of stone are preserved in the sanctum . They are identified as Adiverah, sweta Verah and Yajna Verah . The images are built in iconographical precision , which dates back , according to some Archeologists, to the Gupta age or Mathar Kings reigning in Kalinga during fourth Century AD . The kings were the worshippers of Bishnu and worked for the furtherance of Bishnu cult.
The king of Ali or Aul as it is now called is said to have taken away the original image of Laxmi Verah. The main temple stands in its original form bearing in its body some earlier pieces of sculptures of which the scene of Annapurna giving aims to Lord Shiva is one. The upper part of the temple which had been badly damaged by the fanatic invaders was repaired and reconstructed by the last gajapati King of Orissa, Pratap Rudra Dev at the request of Kashi Mishra ,a renowned Brahmin or owing to the association of Bhagaban SHRI CHAITANYA who stayed here for a day or two and offered worship to Lord Verah on his way to Puri in the first decade of 16th century . the well known Dasaswamedha Ghat built by the Soma Vansi King , Jajati Keshari , where the great Aswamedh Yajna was performed during the 10th century still exists under the piles of sand.
Stirling , the celebrated historian , writes in his history that he visited Jajpur in 1825 and climbed the steps of Dasaswa Medha Ghat from the river bed to reach the Verahji's temple . It bears the proof and testimony to the effect that the Ghat was very close to the temple. Every year Baruni Mela is held here and people come from different places to have a holy dip. On some specific years , which occurs once in every 10th or 12th year lack of people visit the place from different parts of the country to take a holy dip, here, at Dasaswamedha ghat.
Origin of Name
The district takes its own name from the head quarters town Jajpur which was founded by "JAJATI KESHARI", the Somabanshi king in ealry 10th century.
Boundary
Northern boundary of the district is river Baitarini and the districts Keonjhar & Bhadrak.In the south Cuttack district and in the east Dhenkanal and in the west Kendrapara district.
Location
Jajpur District is located in between 200.30’ – 210.10’ N Latitude and 850.40’ – 860.44’ E Longitude covering an area of 2887.69 Sqr.
Climate
The climate of Jajpur district is normal. All the seasons come in the district. An average height from the sea level is 331 mts.and avearge rain fall is 1014.5mm.
The average maximum and minimum temperatures are 38 deg.C and 12 deg.C respectively. Overall, the climate of the district is neither more hot nor more cool
Access
Jajpur is freely connected by Road and Rail (Jajpur Road)from the state capital, Bhubaneswar and it is about 120 kms. away from it.
It is connected by rail with all major cities of the state. One of its tehsil namely Sukinda(Jajpur Road) is linked with all major cities of the country due to main E. Co. Railway link.
River
The Major rivers are Baitarani, Kani, Kharasrota, Budha, Badagenguti, Brahmani, Kelua and Birupa, which flow through the District.
Tourist Place
Chhatia :
Situated at a distance of 25kms from Cuttack, Chhatia is famous for Lord Jagannath Temple.
Chandikhol :
Chandikhol, which is at a distance of 40kms from Cuttack, is an attractive picnic spot with natural springs and sceneries.
Mahabinayak :
At a distance of 2 kms from Chandikhol to the west, is situated the Mahabinayak. The Tourists can enjoy its natural surroundings and the temples of Lord Binayak.
Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri & Udayagiri :
The three Boudh Vihars are at a distance of 70kms from Cuttack. The famous Buddhist Complex is said to be ancient seat of Puspagiri, the buddhist university of 7th century A.D. Recently a statue of emperor Ashok is being discovered form Langudi hill.