Main Info
Raghunath Temple
Situated in the middle of the old city is the famous Raghunath Temple. It attracts tourists from all over the country. The temple also holds the record for having one of the biggest temple complexes in North India. Surrounding the temple is the famous market, bearing the same name, Raghunath Bazaar. About 130 years ago, Maharaja Gulab Singh initiated the construction of this temple in the year 1822. The construction was completed in 1860 by his son Maharaja Ranbir Singh. While the temple worships many Hindu gods, it prominently serves the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Lord Rama.
It is easy to observe the heavy influence of Mughal style architecture in the build of most parts of the temple. One tower has been observed to have been influenced by Sikh style architecture. This tower is located over the main shrine. In total, Raghunath Temple is a complex comprising seven Hindu shrines. Apart from this, each shrine also has a separate shikhara, otherwise known as a spire.
The walls of the main temple complex are lined with gold sheets on three sides. A separate gallery comprising of ‘lingams’, a form of Lord Shiva, and ‘saligrams’ is also present in the complex. You can observe over 300 beautifully crafted images of the Gods on the walls of these shrines. The three major hindu mythologies – Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita – are depicted gracefully in the fifteen panels lining the main shrine.
History of Raghunath Temple
The history of the Raghunath Temple is extremely rich, dating back 130 years to when its construction began. The King and founder of the kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir Maharaja Gulab Singh began the construction of this temple in 1835 A.D. The construction was later taken over by his son Maharaja Ranbir Singh. Eventually, the construction was concluded in 1860 A.D. The temple is prominently dedicated to Lord Rama, the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
As per legend, a dedicated follower of Lord Rama, Shri Ram Dass Bairagi, travelled all the way from Ayodhya to Jammu to preach the teachings of Lord Rama. There he predicted the crowning of Gulab Singh as king. To honour his prediction, on becoming king, Maharaja Gulab Singh had Raghunath Temple built to worship Lord Rama. Shri Ram Dass Bairagi had the first Rama temple constructed in Sui Simbli, where he stayed in a small hut.
Sanskrit began to be taught to Brahmin students at the temple during the reign of Maharaja Ranbir Singh. A large number of students enrolled for the course. In 2002, however, an unfortunate terrorist attack at the temple had it shut down for 11 years. It was eventually opened for devotees again in 2013.
Architecture of Raghunath Temple
The Raghunath Temple sits at the top of the list of the temples with the largest complex in Northern India. A raised platform, 5 feet in height supports the main complex building of the temple. The platform is constructed in the shape of an octagon. You can find three gates at the entrance of the temple. When you enter the gates, you can observe two huge portraits, one of Raja Ranbir Singh and the other of Lord Hanuman. The temple has seven complexes and each complex has its own shikhara or spire.
You can find paintings depicting essential scenes from the Hindu mythologies, Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita on the inner panels. The paintings depict Hindu Gods like Ganesha, Krishna and Vishnu. The Swayamvara of Sita is also depicted in a massive painting on the wall. You can observe gold covering the inner walls of the temple. Gold lines three inner walls of the main temple. The ‘lingams’ and ‘saligrams’ are placed in a gallery located in the complex.
The most notable shrine in the temple is dedicated to Lord Rama in the largest temple complex. He is considered the most essential deity at the temple. Other incarnations of Lord Vishnu also have dedicated shrines in the temple. The sun god, Lord Surya, also has been honoured with a dedicated shrine in the temple. This shrine is one of the most remarkable ones. Many other Hindu Gods and Goddesses have also been honoured with dedicated shrines at the Raghunath Temple. One extraordinary fact about this temple is that it houses almost every deity of the Hindu Pantheon.
The structure of one of the rooms in the temple is such that all four dhams can be seen from the same direction. All four – Rameshwaram, Dwarkadheesh, Badrinath and Kedarnath – are arranged to be seen from the same direction. All this, and you can also observe Satyanarayan from the same room. Complete this enchanting room with the divine impression of the Sun in the centre. A calendar with all months and all Hindu deities is hung on all four walls. All of this truly makes Raghunath Temple as one of the most beautiful sites to visit in Jammu.
Tips for Visiting Raghunath Temple
- The temple premises prohibit the use of mobiles and cameras. Keep them safe by availing the locker facilities at the temple.
- The priests at the temple might try to extort hefty amounts of money from you in the form of temple donations. Stand your ground while refusing to donate heavy amounts.
How to Reach Raghunath Temple
The temple is located 3 km from Jammu Tawi in Majhin, near Fattu Chaughan, Pakki Dhakki. The railway station is easily accessible through public and private transport, including, rickshaws, buses and cabs.