Ram Raja Temple, commonly known as Orchha Temple, is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage, situated in Orchha, Madhya Pradesh. Like Ayodhya, Orchha temple is also a very special place. It is believed that Lord Ram has two residences. He stays at Orchha temple during the day and returns to Ayodhya at night.
The temple has a couplet written on it: “Ram Ke Do Niwas Khas, Diwas Orchha Rahat, Shayan Ayodhya Vas”, meaning Lord Ram has two favorite residences, Orchha for day and Ayodhya for night. It is believed that after Byari (evening) Aarti at Patali Hanuman Temple, Lord Hanuman takes Lord Ram to Ayodhya for sleeping.
Story Behind Orchha Temple
The tale of Ram Raja Temple in Orchha dates back to the reign of King Madhukar Shah Ju Dev and Queen Ganesh Kunwari in the late 16th century. The king was devoted to Banke Bhihari (God Krishna), while the queen, also known as Kamla Devi, was a devout follower of God Ram. During a visit to God Krishna’s temple, the doors had closed, but the queen insisted they stay. They joined a group of devotees singing and dancing outside, where it’s believed that God Krishna and Radha danced with them, showering golden flowers from the heavens.
A disagreement arose between the king and queen about visiting Braj-Mathura or Ayodhya. The king challenged the queen to bring the child form of God Ram from Ayodhya, and only then would he accept her true devotion. The queen vowed to do so and secretly ordered the construction of a temple, the Chaturbhuj Temple, upon her return with God Ram.
In Ayodhya, the queen fervently prayed to God Ram near Sarayu river, gradually giving up food until she fasted for a month. In despair, she jumped into the river at midnight. To her amazement, God Ram appeared in her lap in child form, pleased with her devotion. God Ram agreed to accompany the queen to Orchha with three conditions: he would travel only during Pukh Nakshatra, become the king of Orchha, and stay where the queen first placed him. The queen agreed, and the journey took 8 months and 27 days.
King Madhukar Shah, realizing his mistake through a dream, went to receive the queen with apologies. However, she refused his comforts, claiming she possessed everything with God Ram. Back in Orchha, as the queen prepared to take God Ram to the Chaturbhuj Temple, he transformed into an idol and fixed himself in the queen’s palace, not the intended temple.
The Ram Raja Temple remains in the palace to this day. The idol originally stood, but at the queen’s request, God Ram now sits. As promised, God Ram is the King of Orchha, and the temple is a testament to the queen’s unwavering devotion.
Even today, at 4’o clock, Lord Ram is saluted as a king by the MP police. This is a city where no VIP is saluted except the God.