Raghunath Temple
Raghunath Temple is located in Jammu city of Jammu & Kashmir state of India. This temple is not only a symbol of devotion of Hindu religion but also the identity of Jammu city. This temple is the biggest temple in north India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Rama. This temple is a beautiful example of Indian heritage.
The temple work was initially started by Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1835 AD and was completed by his son Maharaja Ranbir Singh in 1860 AD. A sight to behold, every nook and corner of this temple spills of holiness. The temple comprises of clusters of many small and big shrines and temples within it, this is what accounts to its largeness in area. Inside the inner sanctum of the temple, there are big statues of lingams among those of other Gods and Goddesses connected with the epic of Ramayana. The seven shrine walls have well-crafted images of various deities mainly incarnations of Lord Vishnu, over a 300! These also have tower tops of their own which light up at night and glitter away beautifully. Do you know that the inner walls of the temple are completely made of gold sheets? The architecture is Mughal- spiral towers and arches. There are many, galleries of ‘Saligrams’ which are fossilized shells. Apart from this, there is a Sanskrit library here that is said to contain many rare manuscripts. Both morning and evening aartis are blissful.
Legend and History of Raghunath Temple:-
The Raghunath temple has a historical significance and there are multiple temples that surround the main temple and these temples are dedicated to the multiple Gods and Goddesses that are connected with the times of the epic Ramayana. This popular temple in Jammu is renowned for the temple’s depiction of Rama Leela and also of the Krishna Leela in its beautiful paintings. Prevalent legend suggests that the temple is dedicated to Lord Rama and was originally built by Raja Jagat Singh of Kullu in order to correct a major wrong that was done by him. The main idol that is placed inside the temple was brought back from Ayodhya which is the birthplace of Lord Rama according to the Ramayana.
The temple also has peeps of the Mughal masonry that can be visualized in architectural splendor of the Raghunath Temple. The temple carvings and arches are extraordinarily resplendent that grabs everyone’s attention. The temple complex also has a library that houses rare Sanskrit books as well as manuscripts. People also visit this temple in huge numbers in order to pay their homage to their deity and to seek blessings from the Lord.
The major significance of the Raghunath Temple is seen with seven shrines each of which has its own “Shikhara”, (which deciphers to ‘mountain peak’ in Sanskrit and this refers to rising towers and is a special part of the Hindu temple architecture especially in northern India). This temple has one of the largest temple complexes in the entire of North India which is located in Jammu city. This temple has multiple Gods enshrined in it but has the presiding deity as Lord Ram who is believed to be an “avatar” or an embodiment of Lord Vishnu.
Note: It is believed that Raghunath Temple in Jammu consisits 33 crore Gods on a single spread stone
Raghunath Temple was built by Maharaja Gulab Singh of Dogra dynasty. The construction work started in 1835 A.D. After the death of Maharaja Gulab Singh, the work was completed by, Maharaja Ranbir Singh, son of Gulab Singh. The construction of the temple was completed during 1853-1860 A.D. An influence of Mughal architecture is seen in the gold plated spiral shaped towers. The tower over the main shrine is represented Sikh architectural style. The niches in the walls of the shrines are decorated with 300 images of deities. The paintings in the panels of the main shrine are based on themes from Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavad Gita. Externally, the temple appears as five Kalash arranged in sequence. The idols of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshman are placed inside the sanctum. The idols of various characters of Ramayana and Mahabharata are installed in the various rooms around the sanctum. Apart from this, a replica of Char Dham can be seen together in a room. It is placed in such a way that Rameshwaram, Dwarkadheesh, Badrinath and Kedarnath can be seen from one direction.
Maharaja Gulab Singh got inspiration to build this temple from Shri Ram Dass Bairagi who was an ardent devotee of Lord Ram. He had come to Jammu from Ayodhya to spread the teachings of Lord Ram. He used to live in a hut in Sui-Simbli where he built Ram temple. Prevalent legend suggests that the temple was originally constructed by Raja Jagat Singh of Kullu in order to get rid of a wrong deed. The main idol placed inside the temple was brought from Ayodhya.
Structure Of Raghunath Temple:-
Raghunath temple has the most beautiful and splendid temple complex in Northern India. This complex consists of 17 temples. There is hardly any image of deity which is not represented here. This Temple is mainly dedicated to Lord Rama Work on the temple was started by Maharaja Gulab Singh, founder of the kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir in 1835 A.D. and was completed by his son, Maharaja Ranbir Singh in 1860 A.D. The inner walls of the main temple are covered with gold sheet on three sides. There are many galleries with lakhs of Saligrams. The surrounding temples are dedicated to various Gods and Goddesses connected with the epic RamayanaThe temple is also renowned for its depiction of the Rama Lila and Krishna Lila in paintings. According to legend, this temple of Lord Rama was built by Raja Jagat Singh of Kullu to correct a great wrong done by him. The idol apparently was brought from Ayodhya, the birthplace of Rama. The religious life style of Kullu valley revolves around this sacred idol of God Raghunathji. Daily rituals comprise of a sacred bath, intricate floral decoration and worship of this principal deity of Kullu.
The Hindu temple complex, one of the largest in North India, which has seven shrines, is built on a raised platform of 5 feet height in an octagonal shape. The front fascia is 40 feet in width while the main shrine is set 50 feet away from the entrance. Within the enclosed space of the yard, there are residential buildings and open cattle yards on its eastern and northern directions. The front fascia of the temple has three entry doors. The main shrine which is 20 feet (6.1 m)x20 feet in size, is surrounded by a circumambulation passage of 10 feet width. The entrance door, set on one side of this octagonal chamber of the shrine, faces east. The interior of the inner chamber is gold plated. The main walls of the outer chamber have 15 panels, each of 9 feet height.
These interior panels have a surfeit of paintings of the Jammu School of painting consisting of images from the Hindu epics Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavad Gita, represented by gods such as Ganesha, Krishna, Sheshashayi Vishnu and also a large painting depicting the Sita Swayamvara scene . Apart from the mythology related themes, some paintings relate to secular aspects, like Kabir, a saint, engaged in weaving and army personnel of Dogra and Sikh communities. The paintings also reveal the type of attire and the weaponry prevalent during the period of temple building. In the main shrine, the idol of Lord Rama, which is the family deity of the then king and the Dogra people, is deified in the garbhagriha . The shrine has a dome instead of the normal shikhara in a pyramidal shape, which is in the Sikh architectural style. All the seven shrines have gold plated spires. Gods and Goddesses enshrined in the seven shrines are all related to the epic Ramayana. In one of the shrines, there is a Shiva linga, which is carved out of black stone and measures 7.5 feet. The shrines are also enshrined with a very large number of Saligramas .
The architectural features of the shrines are stated to be largely influenced by Mughal architecture. A distinct feature noted in the entire temple complex is the stucco style embellishments built with brick masonry and finished with plaster.The motifs crafted are of floral and geometric designs, on the walls, in the niches and on arches. Apart from paintings on the walls, the niches in the interior parts of the shrines have 300 well-crafted images of deities. The profusion of paintings and images on the internal and external faces of the temple was considered an auspicious feature, instead of leaving the wall surfaces blank. However, the images and murals on the outer walls of the temple have since been demolished
Significance of the Raghunath Temple:-
The major significance of the Raghunath Temple is seen with seven shrines each of which has its own “Shikhara”, (which deciphers to ‘mountain peak’ in Sanskrit and this refers to rising towers and is a special part of the Hindu temple architecture especially in northern India). This temple has one of the largest temple complexes in the entire of North India which is located in Jammu city. This temple has multiple Gods enshrined in it but has the presiding deity as Lord Ram who is believed to be an “avatar” or an embodiment of Lord Vishnu.
This temple although is a famous Hindu shrine yet it came under public glare after the intense scan the devotees were performing Pooja inside the temple complex on November 24, 2002 and many suicide bombers entered the complex and a terrorist attack took place inside the temple complex. The attack resulted in 10 deaths and several devotees were injured in the blast.
The entrance of the temple has a life size image of Maharaja Ranbir Singh who was its founder and also an image of Lord Hanuman that exaggerates this holy site. The central shrine of the temple is dedicated to Lord Ram also popularly known as Raghunath after whom the temple has been named. Lord Rama is the commanding deity of this temple.
Special feature:-
The stunningly beautiful sight of 12, 00,000 ‘saligrams’ in the hall of the main temple.
•Nuisance: Totally clean and peaceful.
•Connectivity: Taxis, auto-rickshaws and buses are easily available.
•Avoidable Season: None as such.
•Facilities: There are few restaurants and shops nearby. There is also a parking facility.
•Things not allowed: Leather items or weapons are strictly prohibited inside the temple premises.
•Suggestion: Before paying visit, ensure you have a proper knowledge about the codes and conduct of the temple.
Places Around Jammu:-
Raghunath Temple:-
The most outstanding landmark and famous tourist attraction in Jammu is the Raghunath Temple. Raghunath Temple is situated in the heart of the city and surrounded by a group of other temples. This temple is dedicated to Lord Rama, and one of the largest temple complexes in the North India. The work on its construction was started by Maharaja Gulab Singh, founder of the principality of Jammu and Kashmir, in 1835 AD and was completed by his son,
Maharaja Ranbir Singh, in 1860 AD. The temple consists of seven shrines and each shrine has a simple tower. The tower over the central shrine is curvlinear. Its fluted surface, arches and niches indicate a Mughal influence. The inner walls of the main temple are covered with gold sheet on three sides. There are many galleries with innumerable 'saligrams'. The surrounding temples are dedicated to various Hindu deities from the epic Ramayana, images of Vishnu in various incarnations, Shiva and Surya. There is also a stone lingam here and is a great centre for the Shakti worship. The portrait of Ranbir Singh and a sculpture of Hanuman are situated at the entrance.
Peer Khoh:-
Peer Khoh is a cave shrine located on the Circular Road, 3.5 kms from the heart of the town. There is a naturally formed Shiva lingam in the cave which is quite mysterious as neither its antiquity nor its cause are known. Legend has it that the cave leads underground to many other cave shrines and even out of the country.
Ranbireshwar Temple:-
Ranbireshwar Temple is located on Shalimar Road near the New Secretariat and built by Maharaja Ranbir Singh in 1883 AD. The Ranbireshwar Temple is situated opposite the Dogra Art Gallery in Jammu. This historic temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is a local landmark due to 75 m tower and an extraordinary central crystal lingam measuring seven-and-a-half feet in height. It also has twelve Shiva 'lingams' of crystal measuring from 15" to 38" and galleries with thousands of others are carved on stone slabs.
Ranbir Canal:-
A small garden along the Ranbir Canal, which runs through the city outskirts, provides a cool picnic spot during the summer. The canal branches off from the river Chenab at Akhnoor, 32 kms away. Its water remains icy-cold throughout the year and its banks serve as good viewpoints and walkways.
Bahu Fort and Gardens:-
Bahu Fort is situated near the Amar Mahal museum and about 5 kms away from the city centre. It is entered through a large quadrangle. This fort stands on on an upland plateau on the left bank of the river Tawi. The Bahu Fort is the oldest fort and edifice in the city, and constructed originally by Raja Bahulochan over 3,000 years ago. The Bahu fort was later improved and rebuilt as the Mondi Palace by the Dogra rulers. Looking at this fort one can imagine the wars fought, invasions prevented, and even the grandeur of the royal family must have enjoyed at the time. The ancient Bahu Fort is now in ruins. Today it is surrounded by a lush green terraced garden, with waterfalls and flowers of every kind and colour. It is a favourite picnic spot for the city folk. Inside, there is a temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali. Its ramparts swarm with devotees during the festivals who come to pay their homage to goddess Kali. An extensive terraced garden, known as Bagh-e-Bahu, has been developed around the fort.
Aquarium Bagh-I-Bahu:-
Bagh-I-Bahu is the India's largest underground aquarium in Jammu. This aquarium is drawing a large number of tourists ever since it was opened to the public. Besides students, the aquarium has become a centre of attraction for tourists, giving them an opportunity to revel in the exotic aquatic world. The aquarium-cum-awareness centre comprises of 24 aquarium caves including 13 small caves for holding freshwater fishes, two large caves for holding marine water fishes and nine medium sized aquariums for holding marine and fresh water fishes. It has state-of-the-art equipment, a public gallery, museum, laboratory and a multimedia conference hall. The entrance is designed in the shape of the mouth of a fish and the exit in the shape of a fish tail. The aquarium houses a museum where 400 varieties of freshwater and marine fish are on display.
Peer Baba:-
Behind the Civil Airport is the famous Durgah of the Muslim saint, Peer Budhan Ali Shah. On Thursdays, Hindu and Sikh devotees who visit this shrine, vastly outnumber the Muslim devotees.
Mahamaya Temple and City Forest:-
On the bypass Road, behind Bahu Fort, the city forest surrounds the ancient Mahamaya temple overlooking the river Tawi. A small garden surrounded by acres of woods provides the best view of the city.
Mubarak Mandi Complex :-
The oldest buildings in this palace complex date back to 1824. The architecture is a blend of Rajasthani, Mughal and even baroque elements. The most stunning segment is the Sheesh Mahal. "The Pink Hall" houses the Dogra Art Museum which has miniature paintings of the various Hill Schools.
Amar Mahal Palace Museum:-
The Amar Mahal Museum was built by the Amar Singh in 1907. This museum is more like a French chateau with its sloping roofs and turrets. The Amar Mahal Palace is built on an eyrie overlooking the Tawi river. The museum was designed by a French man. The exhibits in the Amar Mahal Palace museum includes Pahari paintings, royal miniature paintings, manuscripts, finest library of antique books. The museum also has a portrait gallery which contains the family portraits of ancient Dogra kings and rulers of Jammu and Kashmir. An entire series of miniatures on the epic Nal-
Amar Mahal Palace Museum Jammu
Damayanti can be seen in the museum. The museum also conducts a "heritage walk" programme for interested student to familiarize them with the history of Jammu.
Dogra Art Gallery:-
The Art Gallery in Jammu is located opposite the New Secretariat. The Gallery has a rich display of Dogra art belonging to the Pahari and Basholi schools, fine miniatures of the Jammu and Basohli School of painting, Terracottas, medieval weapons, sculptures and ancient manuscripts.
Raghunath Temple Timings :-
Opening & Closing:-
Monday - Friday: 6.00 AM - 8.00 PM , Saturday: 6.00 AM - 8.00 PM , Sunday: 6.00 AM - 8.00 PM , Public Holidays: 6.00 AM - 8.00 PM
Tragedy Of Raghunath Temple :-
Jammu Nov. 24. Militants attacked the Raghunath temple here today for the second time in nine months, killing nine persons and injuring forty-two. In the encounter that followed with the security forces, one militant was gunned down ending the siege. A jawan of the Central Reserve Police Force was also killed. Another terrorist attack was simultaneously launched at the Shivalya Mandir (also known as Panchbakhar mandir), a few hundred metres away from the Raghunath temple. The militants were firing from inside the shrine when reports last came in. Sources said that a curfew would be imposed in the town tomorrow and all educational institutions would remain closed. The militants targeted devotees at the Raghunath temple as they made their way into the complex by passing the security ring at the gates. They sneaked in much deeper than they had done in March and opened fired indiscriminately. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, and most of his Cabinet colleagues reside around 500 metres away from the temple. Initial reports said there were two militants but they could not be confirmed.
The militants hurled grenades in the nearby Hari market to divert the attention of the security forces and gain entry into the temple. A fierce encounter ensued around 7 p.m., with the CRPF, assisted by the State Police, leading the operations. They blocked the three escape routes from the temple. The flush-out operation lasted two hours. Most of the devotees were locals as the rush of the Vaishno Devi pilgrims has declined in the recent months due to similar terrorist attacks in the vicinity. The telephone lines in some parts of the city snapped after the attack resulting in breakdown of communication. The militants chose to attack on a Sunday evening when the bazaar is closed. Emotions ran high in the market and huge crowds thronged the near-by streets. Police found it difficult to control the enraged people. Before the people could gain in strength, another group of militants attacked the Shivalya Mandir. It is possible that they simultaneously entered the temple but opened fire a little later than the attackers did in the Raghunath temple. The Minister of State for External Affairs, Omar Abdullah, expressed his anguish over the incident. "The new Government should make sure that its polices do not in demoralise the security forces and give an upper hand to the terrorists.'' The Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, Shabir Shah, also condemned the attack.
How To Reach:-
By Road:-
The National Highway 1 A passes through Jammu and connects with all parts of the country. The National Highway 1B is entirely within the state.
By Train:-
Jammu city has a railway station called Jammu Tawi, and is well connected with major cities of India. Express trains operate from Jammu station to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Amritsar.
By Air:-
Jammu Airport operates flights to many cities in India such as Delhi, Leh and Srinagar.
