Raghunath Temple: The largest temple complex of North India
Jammu, June 14: The city of temples as Jammu is known world over is famous for its numerous historical, ancient and unique temples that dot the entire periphery of Jammu city as well as the whole region.
Since temples are the main attraction of the city it is but natural that tourists or pilgrims look for the opportunity to visit most of them to seek blessings and see the architectural and spiritual marvels.
Among the temples of Jammu region, Raghunath temple is the most famous of them all. The temple and the city are like body and the soul as Jammu cannot be imagined without the mention of famous Raghunath temple.
Apart from Mata Vasihnodevi ji which gained huge popularity after 1986, Raghunath temple is the most talked, visited and mentioned temple among the tourists.
It was due to its popularity that terrorists chose the place to create terror twice in 2002, in March and November when they struck here to get media mileage.
Raghunath Temple consists of a complex of seven Hindu shrines, each with its own Sikhara. It is one of the largest temple complexes of north India. It is located in Jammu in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The temple was built during the period 1822–1860 by Maharaja Gulab Singh and his son Maharaja Ranbir Singh of the Jamwal Rajput clan. The temple has many gods in its complex of shrines, but the presiding deity is Rama, an Avatar of Vishnu. The Mughal architectural influence is seen in all the spiral shaped towers which have gold plated spires, except the tower over the main shrine which is said to be in Sikh architectural style. The niches in the walls of the shrines are decorated with 300 well crafted images of deities. The paintings in the 15 panels of the main shrine are based on themes from Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavad Gita.
The temple complex is located in the heart of Jammu city which is well connected by road, rail and air services.
During the reign of the rulers of Jammu Shivaliks, after 1765, there was a spurt in temple building activity in Jammu area, which continued during the early period of the 19th century. The rulers built spiral shaped temples with brick and crowned each tower with bright Kalashas in the shape of sikhara (rising tower). One such temple complex was started in 1822 (1835 is also mentioned by some) by Gulab Singh, the ruler of Jammu and was dedicated to his guru Baba Prem Das. Its construction was completed in 1860 by his son Maharaja Ranbir Singh. However, according to an inscription in Brahmic script (Takri) at the entrance of the temple, Gulab Singh and his brother Dhyan Singh are credited with building the temple in 1827 in honour of Mahant Jagannath. During the reign of Ranbir Singh, the temple complex became the centre of Sanskrit teachings to a large number of Brahmin students. A translation centre was also established as part of the temple where books on philosophy and history in Arabic and Persian languages were translated by Muslim scholars into Sanskrit. Likewise, Pundits translated many scriptures into Hindi and Dogri languages. This initiative taken by Maharaja Ranbir Singh to bring amity between the Hindu and Muslim communities was praised by Sir Aurel Stein as in order to facilitate the exchange of ideas which the Maharaja in a spirit of true enlightenment desired to promote between the representatives of Hindu and Mohammedan scholars in his domain.
The temple also houses a library, which has rare Sanskrit works. The Hindu temple complex, one of the largest in North India, which has seven shrines, is built over a raised platform of 5 feet (1.5 m) height in an octagonal shape. The front fascia is 40 feet (12 m) in width while the main shrine is set 50 feet (15 m) 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 (6.1 m) in size, is surrounded by a circumambulatory passage (pradakshina path) of 10 feet (3.0 m) 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 (2.7 m) 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 (reclining 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 (sanctum sanctorum). The shrine has a dome instead of the normal shikara 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 (2.3 m). The shrines are also enshrined with a very large number of Saligramas (fossil ammonite stones specially obtained from the Gandaki river, in Nepal – a Vaishnava (Hindu) anionic representation of Vishnu). 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 (lotuses) 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.
Raghunath temple has since been associated with the Jammu city in such a way that a big chunk of the Jammu main city’s business is entirely dependent on the tourists who visit the temple.
In fact these businessmen are among the most influential and rich people of the city indicating how important the temple has become for the economy of the city as well as boosting the tourism trade here.
Even though there are some complaints about the internal donation collection by the Pandits but the Dharmarth trust managing the temple has been taking care of such complaints to keep the temple aloof from any unnecessary controversy. In short this temple is the first stop for any tourist or pilgrims visiting the city of temples. (Compiled with inputs from wikipedia and tourism related sites)