Rajiv Lochan Temple, Rajim – The Temple

Rajiv Lochan Temple, Rajim – The Temple

The main entrance to the temple compound is from west however a small entrance is provided at north also. The entrance on the western side is heavily ornamanted. There is an image of Ananda Sayana Vishnu in the center of the door lintel. An image of Gaja Lakshmi can be seen just below the central image of Ananda Sayana Vishnu. This courtyard is 147 feet in length and 102 feet in width.

The temple is classified as a Panchatanaya Temple where the main shrine was surrounded by four subsidiary shrines in the four corners around the temple.  Rajiv Lochan shrine stands in center, shrine for Narasimha on north-west corner, shrine for Badrinath on north-east corner, shrine for Vamana on south-east corner and a shrine for Varaha on south-west corner. The shrines at the corners are smaller in size and shikhara similar to the central shrine.

All these shrines have their respective deities except the shrine of Badrinath. It houses an image of Vishnu. These shrines and the compound wall  of the temple complex were constructed after the construction of the main temple. The main temple is facing towards east. The Temple is constructed over a raised platform. It consists of sanctum, antarala and mandapa. The Mandapa can be approached from the north by flight of steps.

The Mandapa is supported by two rows of six pillars each, and twelve pilasters, six on either side. All the pilasters are carved with life size sculptures. Sculptures of Rama, Sita, Ganga, Narasimha, Varaha, Yamuna, Durga, Surya and Dvarapalas can be seen in these pilasters. The sanctum is square in plan. The sanctum houses a black stone image of Lord Vishnu.  He is holding gada (club), shankha (conch), chakra (discus) and lotus.

The idol of Vishnu is bare footed. It is a unique feature nowhere else to be seen. The deity is always draped in unstitched cloth that is never knotted at the ends but left folded. The pagri or turban adorning the Lord’s crown is woven by generations of a single family and the Lord is bedecked thrice every day in three different forms: as a child in the morning, as a youth in the afternoon and as an old man in the evening.

There is an image of Garuda on the lintel of the sanctum door. The Sanctum is crowned with Shikara. The Shikara is of four tiers and is about 50 feet high. There is an idol of Lord Buddha in the meditative position under the Bodhi tree carved out of black stone, situated on one corner of the inner courtyard. Locals identify this idol with the image of the King Jagat Pal.

There are two foundation inscriptions, one on southern wall and the other on the northern wall of the mandapa. Inscription on northern wall is dated to first half of 8^th Century CE and mentions about the construction of a Vishnu Temple by a king of Nala dynasty. The other inscription on the southern wall of the mandapa, mentions construction of a Rama temple by Jagatpal in 1145 CE.

Rajeshvar Temple:

This Temple is facing towards east. It is located opposite to the western entrance of Rajiv Lochan Temple. It is constructed over a raised platform. The temple consists of Sanctum, Antrala and Mandapa. The mandapa is supported on two rows of pillars and a row of pilaster on either side. Images of river goddess Ganga and Yamuna can be found on two opposite pilasters at the entrance. Presiding Deity is called as Rajeshvar. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. The Sanctum is square in plan. Dvarapalas can be found at the entrance of sanctum. Nandi can be found in Antrala facing the sanctum.

Daneshvar Temple:

This Temple is situated very close to Rajeshvar Temple on the southern side. It is also constructed over a raised platform. The Temple consists of Sanctum, Antrala, Nandi Mandapa and Maha Mandapam. Nandi Mandapa is unique because no other temples in Rajim have Nandi Mandapa.

Jagannath Temple:

Jagannath Temple is situated near northern entrance of Rajiv Lochan temple. The sanctum houses a wooden image of Jagannath.

Rajim Telin Temple:

Rajim Telin Temple is located to the west of Rajeshvar Temple. It houses a sati stone like structure inside the sanctum.

Someshvar Mahadev Temple:

Someshvar Mahadev Temple is a newly constructed temple over the site of an ancient Temple. It is situated little away from the river in residential colony.

Pancheshvar Mahadev and Bhuteshvar Mahadeva Temples:

Pancheshvar Mahadev Temple and Bhuteshvar Mahadeva Temple are situated side by side near the river bank.