Biraja Panjika (ବିରଜା ପଞ୍ଜିକା) is a printed Odia almanac named after Goddess Biraja of Jajpur, the town traditionally called Biraja Kshetra. It is one of several well-known panjikas sold across Odisha and used to look up tithis, festival dates and auspicious times.
Like other Odia almanacs, the Biraja Panjika is produced by a private publisher rather than a temple body. Wikipedia lists it among the panjikas in the tradition of the astronomer Pathani Samanta and associates it with the publisher Radharaman Pustakalaya.
Quick Facts
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Printed Odia almanac (panjika) |
| Named after | Goddess Biraja, Jajpur |
| Language | Odia |
| Calculation tradition | Pathani Samanta's reformed reckoning |
| Used For | Tithis, festivals, muhurta |
Biraja Kshetra — The Sacred Land
Jajpur is known as Biraja Kshetra because:
- It is home to the Biraja Temple (Maa Biraja)
- In tantric tradition the temple is counted among the Shakti Peethas
- Jajpur is also revered as Nabhi Gaya, where ancestral rites are performed
What It Contains
Daily Panchanga
Like other Odia panjikas, the Biraja Panjika gives:
- ତିଥି (Tithi) — Lunar day with its ending time
- ନକ୍ଷତ୍ର (Nakshatra) — Lunar mansion
- ଲଗ୍ନ (Lagna) — Ascendant
- ରାଶି (Rashi) — Moon sign
- ଯୋଗ (Yoga) — The day's yoga
- କରଣ (Karana) — Half-tithi
Festivals
Odia panjikas list the dates of festivals observed across Odisha, for example:
- ନୂଆଖାଇ (Nuakhai) — the harvest festival of western Odisha
- ପୁଷ ପୁନେଇ (Pusha Punei)
- ଶକ୍ତି ପୂଜା — dates of goddess worship such as Durga Puja
- Ekadashis, Sankrantis and vratas
Biraja and the Pathani Samanta tradition
In the 19th century the astronomer Pathani Samanta set out reformed calculations in Siddhanta Darpana (completed 1869). Wikipedia names the Biraja Panjika, along with the Khadiratna and Samanta panjikas, among the prominent almanacs of this tradition. Different panjikas can still differ slightly in their dates, so festival days occasionally vary from one almanac to another.
Biraja vs Jagannath Panjika
| Aspect | Biraja Panjika | Jagannath Panjika |
|---|---|---|
| Named after | Goddess Biraja, Jajpur | Lord Jagannath, Puri |
| Type | Printed almanac | Almanacs following the Puri tradition |
| Publisher | Private publisher | Private publishers |
The Biraja Temple
The panjika takes its name from the Maa Biraja Temple in Jajpur:
- Counted among the Shakti Peethas in tantric tradition
- The goddess is worshipped as a two-armed form of Durga as Mahishasuramardini
- Major festivals include Durga Puja and the temple's chariot festival, known as Simhadhwaja
Related: Jagannath Panjika • Nuakhai • Jajpur district • Calendar
