Ram Raja Mandir (Temple of King Ram )

Ram Raja Mandir, a palace-turned-temple, is located at Orchha, a town in Niwari district of of Madhya Pradesh. This is the only temple in the world where Lord Ram is worshipped as a king. So the name Ram Raja (king) Temple. Orcha was the seat of power of the princely state of the same name.

An interesting legend is attached to the worshipping of Ram as King. The legend has it that in 1600 AD queen of King Madhukar Shah, the third Bundela ruler of Orchha and contemporary of Mughal Emperor Akbar, brought idols of Lord Rama and Lord Ganesha from Ayodhya to the capital. The idol of Ram was supposed to be installed in the Chaturbhuj Temple. The idol was kept at the palace as the Chaturbhuj Temple was yet to be completed. Thereupon after the completion of the Chaturbhuj Temple, the idol that was to be installed in the new temple did not move. This was construed as a divine miracle and the palace was turned into a temple. This is the reason that the idol of Ram faces the palace not the temple.

Since then Lord Rama is given a ‘guard of honour’ in place of aarti. The government of Madhya Pradesh has also recognized Ram as a king and as such has placed jawans who give guard of honour to King Ram. In Orcha none is given guard of honour as Ram is the King here.

The two towers built on the corridors of the Ram Raja Mandir are the centre of attraction for the people. The tunnels underneath these towers were used by the members of the royal family to move outside.

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