Religiously Historic Raghunath Temple
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“Validation of my...Page 4 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2019 INTERNET EDITION : www.dailyexcelsior.com/magazine Grah-Pravesh...Page 3 Religiously historic Raghunath Temple Mehak Dua Vishnu, Lord Ganesha, Bharat, Shatrughana, Narsingha Avatara, Radha Krishan, Varah Avatara, Vaman Avatara, As per Hindu mythology Lord Rama is Mahalaxmi, Matsya, Kashyap Ji, Virat Ji, Lord Shiva and Luxmi Narayan are located in 14 beautifully designed tem- the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu ples around the main sanctum sanctorum. Interestingly the temple has been so well designed that it also possesses in its who symbolises morality, virtue and lap a hall called Ahata where all four Dhams including idealism. Some of the Slokas offered as Badrinath, Dwarka, Jagannath Puri and Rameshwaram around Brahma Ji have been depicted. The place is historic part of prayers to Lord Rama describe and enlightens the devotees spiritually. him as chief amongst Raghus. The 185 years old Raghunath temple though officially stands completed in 1860 yet installation of more statues The Sloka says and I quote "Neelambhuj and other development works never stopped here. Over a Shyamalkomlang Sita Samaropitvambhagam, Pano period of time idols of Mata Vaishno Devi, Hanuman and Mahasaikacharoochapam Namame Ramam Raghuvansh- Nataraja and now Sai Baba have also been installed in the natham" (Lord Rama is the chief amongst the Raghus. His temple premises for devotees. In the last Parikrama a trans- handsome body is of dark blue colour like the blue lotus. He parent Shivling brought in by Dr Karan Singh, a politician, has Sita seated on his left. He is the one, who wields a beau- philanthropist poet and son of Maharaja Hari Singh stands tiful bow and arrows in his hands. I bow to such great Lord.) installed. Interestingly an Arti (Prayer) in Dogri by Dr Karan Going by this very Sloka, erstwhile Maharaja of Jammu Singh also stands painted on a wall which reflects cultural and Kashmir Maharaja Ranbir Singh not only completed the ethos of City of Temples. construction of famous Raghunath Temple in 1860 which Statues of Maharaja Amar Singh, Maharaja Gulab Singh was started by his father and first Dogra ruler Maharaja and Maharaja Ranbir Singh are also located in this last circle Gulab Singh way back in 1835 in Jammu but also installed along with the main entrance. Statues of Swami Kartikeya first ever idol of its kind in the sanctum sanctorum of this and Goddess Maha Kali have freshly been added to the temple that's thronged by millions of tourists and pilgrims every year. This is the first temple in India which is having Temple treasure, which were installed by Dr Karan Singh in dark coloured (Shyamrang) idol of Lord Rama that's made of presence of his sons Vikramaditya Singh and Ajat Shatru granite. Singh. A huge Shivling religiously known as Swyambhu Head priest of the temple, Darshan Kumar Sharma in an Shivling brought in from river Narbada is also in this temple exclusive interview to the writer informed, "Since Lord that's thronged by devotees in large numbers. The Sphatik Rama is reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, the statue/idol in this Shivling and Bagula Mukhi Nataraja are quite popular temple was made of dark (Shyam) colour to depict Lord amongst devotees. Rama in his truest form. J&K Dharmarth Trust is managing Recalling militants' attack, Darshan Kumar Sharma said this historic temple besides 122 more temples located across Excelsior/Rakesh that temple has been attacked twice and two bullet marks the length and breadth of freshly carved Jammu and have still been preserved that had hit main sanctum sancto- clay and straws that bind so well that after centuries they The temple according to Darshan Sharma who has been Kashmir Union Territory (UT). All the spiral-shaped towers rum without touching idols of Lord Rama and Sita. The day gain strength of stones. Wooden doors of many temples serving temple since past over 31 years has four Parikramas have gold plated spires and the temples rest on a raised plat- was gory yet all 88 persons serving the temple in different resemble those used in Mubarak Mandi or in old Havelis of or Pradakshinas (circling sanctum of the temple) where form in an octagonal shape keeping in view aesthetics capacities including 45 priests were saved with the grace of Jammu city. devotees walk around the innermost chamber of the temple besides Vastu during that era. God. "Today we get about 500 to 2000 visitors everyday who Since the family of erstwhile Dogra Maharajas are said to housing deities. After paying obeisance to Lord Rama, Sita Thronged by millions, Raghunath Temple, Jammu hous- feel elated by paying obeisance here at the Raghunath be Suryavanshis, descent from Surya, James Tod an English and Laxman located in the gold plated inner most sanctum es about 365 statues including that of Lord Rama, Sita and Temple", the head priest said. officer of the British East India Company and a scholar had devotees do first Parikrama around this temple where stat- Laxman besides 12,25000 Shaligrams worshiped as iconic Right at the back is a well that earlier used to serve pur- placed them in the list of thirty six royal races claiming that ues of all four Dishas (Directions), Agni Devta besides Shani symbol and reminder of the God Vishnu. These Shaligrams pose of drinking and washing. The modern day water sup- those who followed solar calendar for the calculation of time Devta and two Drawpal Jai and Vijay have been installed. that were brought in by the erstwhile Maharaja, collected ply schemes though have taken over the purpose yet the were called Suryavanshi. This is the reason that main Right inside the main temple are also located three sepa- from beds of river Gandaki near Muktinath in Nepal, are temple authorities have not closed that well which forms entrance of Raghunath temple (Deodi) has a huge Sun built rate idols of Lord Rama also known as Raghunath, an Avatar believed to be representing 33 Crore Hindu deities (Devi, part of Parikrama. Some very small portions of temple right in the centre of façade depicting Suryavansh. of Vishnu, Sita and Laxman besides that of Radha and Devtas) that include one Prajapati, one Indra, 8 Vasus, 12 The Deodi has been designed in such a manner that Lord Krishana which are taken in a chariot during Ramnavmi, inside Ahatas have been damaged due to weather vagaries Adityas and 11 Rudras that receive offerings in this temple Ganesha sits right in the middle and on the top of entrance Vijaydashmi and Krishan Janmashtami after being wor- that need to be fixed immediately before it's too late. Call it every day. and four elephants sit on a huge arc constructed in the shape shiped during special prayers by Royal family, Darshan religiously historic or historically religious but the temple The architecture of the temple is such that no steel has of a bow (probably representing the one that Lord Rama car- Sharma said adding that then comes second Parikrama that's thronged by millions is both historic and religious been used in its construction and walls of main temple ried in his hand). Beneath that is ornamentally designed Sun where all Ahatas built in most intricate manner in the shapes that stands testimony to rulers' magnanimity who give its besides 14 temples and Ahatas located around main temple and then comes another bow shaped arc. Beneath this is the of arches and inbuilt ventilators are located to enable wor- subjects a temple that's unique and first of its kind in India. are as thick as three to four feet that not only maintain inside main entrance supported by huge double height columns. shippers pray comfortably. Huge passages lead to different The temple which has wide verandas and corridors besides temperature but also stop Sun rays from heating the premis- The rest of the entrance has been camouflaged with bunkers halls and the temple never ever witnesses stampede because large Parikramas never ever fell short for devotees and is es where idols and Shaligrams have been installed. Masonry for security reasons. The bottoms of columns have fish of its wide verandas, walkways and corridors. today also able to hold large gatherings be it on any religious work of these temples have been done using lime mortar, shaped structures that have largely been damaged. Then comes the third Parikrama where idols of Lord occasion. Cancer rate spirals in Kargil Kargil, Ladakh is the abode of nature's intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. This was due to loss of air and road connectivity with other parts of the state and raw and untouched beauty with Rough country, for 6 months (November-April) in harsh winter, Terrains, Snow-capped peaks and winding forcing the population to eat excess of dry, raw food stuffs, stored meats, stored tinned food items, besides traditional roads. The region might be a heaven for spicy foods and pickles. adventure travelers, but all is not well The high rates of gastro-esophageal cancer in Ladakh region is alarming and may be due to the fact that majority of for the local residents. In a recent study the risk factors are prevalent in this region. Dietary habits, conducted by Dr Sajjad Hussain, Smoking, H.Pylori infection, Genetic susceptibility etc. are widely studied. In Ladakh, the most important specific food Consultant Surgeon, District Hospital habit is the consumption of large quantities of hot, salted, Kargil, there was an alarming rise of butter tea; locally known as "noon" tea or " Gurgur" tea; which is made of local butter added to boiling water mixed Cancers and Cancer related deaths in this with common salt(Nacl), Sodium bicarbonate(soda), milk region, having not even a population and green tea leave extracts.