Raghunath Temple is an ancient shrine, situated in the city center of
Jammu, in
Jammu and Kashmir. It is regarded as the largest temple complex in North India. The presiding deity here is
Lord Ram, the eighth incarnation of
Lord Vishnu.
Raghunath Temple is surrounded by a group of other temples including the Panjbakhtar Temple and Ranbireshwar Temple.
The construction was started by Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1851 and was completed by his son, Maharaja Ranbir Singh, in 1857. The temple complex consists of seven shrines, each with a tower. The various incarnations of Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva and Surya are worshipped here.
The architecture of the temple, including the arches, surface and niches shows the influence of the Mughals. The interior of the temple is plated with gold. At the entrance, there is an image of Ranbir Singh and a sculpture of Lord Hanuman. Its inner sanctums contain gigantic statues of deities and numerous ‘lingams’. It contains representatives of almost the entire Hindu pantheon, which make it a rare site to behold. The temple is noted for its sacred scriptures. It houses a Sanskrit library, where one of the richest collections of ancient texts and manuscripts are preserved.
Raghunath Temple can be approached by a short walk from the Tourist Reception Centre. Jammu Tawi Railway Station is the nearest railhead.
