Raghunath Temple

Highlights

• Raghunathji Temple (also called Tirukantamenum Kadi Nagar) in Devprayag, a pilgrimage town in Tehri Garhwal district in Himalayas in the North Indian state of Uttarakhand, is dedicated to Vishnu.
• It is located 73 km from Rishikesh on the Rishikesh–Badrinath highway.
• Constructed in the Deula style, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE.
• It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Raghunathji (Rama) and his consort Lakshmi as Sita.
• The temple was originally believed to have been established by Adi Shankara during the 8th century, with later expansions by the Garhwal Kingdom.

Religious Significance

Devaprayag, the confluence where the temple is located, is counted out as one of the five famous confluences of Ganga in the Himalayas, called Panch Prayag. These are centres of great religious influence and prominent pilgrimage centres. The temple finds mention in four of the eighteen sacred Puranas, namely the Padma Purana, Matsya Purana, Kurma Purana and Agni Purana. The temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Peyalvar, Nammalvar, Thirumangai Alvar and Thirumalisai Alvar.

Dress Code

Modest, respectful clothing is expected at this site.

History

• •The temple is originally in existence from the 9th to 10th century.
• •The temple was originally believed to have been established by Adi Shankara during the 8th century, with later expansions by the Garhwal Kingdom.
• •Garhwal (also the ruling dynasty), the region in Himalayas, where the temple is located, is referred with the name for the first time in a copper plate inscription in the temple from the period of Raja Man Shah during 1610.
• •The temple received contributions from other rulers of the dynasty like Sahaj Pal, who donated a bell to the temple in 1551, as indicated by the inscriptions in the temple.

Architecture

• •Raghunathji temple is located in Devprayag, a town in Tehri Garhwal district in the North Indian state of Uttarakhand.
• •It is located 73 km (45 mi) from Rishikesh on the Rishikesh - Badarinath highway in the lower Himalayas, 1,700 ft (520 m) above sea level.
• •It is located on the confluence of Alaknanda - Bhagirathi river, 618 m (0.618 km) above the sea level.
• •The temple has a single precinct and all the shrines are enclosed in an enclosures.

Travel Tips

• Constructed in the Deula style, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE.

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