Introduction

Along the curves of the Shalimar (locally often pronounced Shalamar) Road as it swings around to the new Secretariat of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, the tall well proportioned spires of the Ranbireshwara temple are visible. Past the gates and wall, the temple stands before a courtyard. This is one of the most venerated of the shrines dedicated to Bhagwan Shiva in the Jammu area and is one of the larger Shiva temples of north India. The temple was built by Maharaja Ranbir Singh (1857 to 1885) in 1883. The Dogra rulers of this erstwhile princely state were ‘Suryavanshi’ Rajputs, and while maintaining a secular state policy, were themselves devout Hindus. An expression of their piety was in the large number of elaborate temples built by them.

The Ranbireshwara Temple has a large black stone ‘shivalinga’ that measures seven and half feet. This may be considered a symbol of the universal God and of auspiciousness. Around this are another dozen lingams of crystal whose height varies between fifteen and thirty-eight centimeters. These apart, the galleries have thousands of lingams fixed on stone slabs; one estimate says that their number is a hundred and twenty-five thousand. While the large lingam is in the primary hall of the temple, the other hall has images of Kartikeya and Ganesha. A large image of Nandi, the bull on which Shiva rides and who is the gatekeeper of Shiva and his consort, Parvati is also in the temple.

On days sacred to Bhagwan Shiva, like the festival of Shivaratri, the temple is thronged with devotees – and as the temple is located in proximity of the city, there are several worshippers throughout the day. The evening and morning ‘aarti’ when there are prayers accompanied by chants and the ringing of bells draw a fairly substantial crowd.

Special Attributes

Large temple dedicated to Shiva

Nuisance

None as such

Dressing restrictions

Conservative

Connectivity

Taxis, auto-rickshaws and buses

Enjoyed by

Religious and general interest

Exposure

None indoors

Avoidable Season

Open through the year

Facilities

Parking and restaurants close by

Things Not Allowed

No leather items like shoes are allowed within the temple

Tip

There can be a rush during the evening 'aarti', especially at festival times. Reach before sundown to ensure a better position near the idols.

Type of site

Temple