Ancient temple in need of urgent maintenance in Jammu
Jammu: Jammu which is popular known by the moniker ‘City of Temples’ because of the numerous temples both ancient and modern that map its landscape.
However, some of the ancient temples have received special attention while there are others, which are not being given proper care which they urgently needed to save them from being perished.
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Such an ancient Mandir known as Rani Kalhuri temple at Jalaka mohalla in Ward No.2 in old city Jammu is in neglected condition.
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The temple was constructed in 1889-90 A.D. by Rani Shub Devi, popularly referred to as Rani Kalhuri, wife of Maharaja Ranbir Singh.
It is said that after buliding the temple the queen made Pandit Mathura Das ( a local) its custodian.
“The temple was built by Maharaja Ranbir Singh’s wife Rani Kalhuri ji and she was from Kaloor of Himachal Pradesh”, said, Dr and priest, Ram Ratan Sharma.
“After building it she gave its custody to my grandfather Mathura Das”, he said.
“The king passed an order that the control of the temple can be given only to adults and not to minors”, he remarked.
“After my grandfather his brother Pandit Shiv Shankar ji got temple’s custody because my grandfather’s sons died due to snake bite and my father was a minor”, he added.
“My father Ram Mal ji was made custodian of temple when he turned 18 after my grandfather’s brother”, he said.
“This temple have Shiv-Parvati idols made of marble stone and also have Ram-Sita, Lakshman, Hanuman idols of Sandalwood”, he further said.
“It also has a shivling”, he added further.
Situated at the top of the Jammu city it gives a ravishing view of the same.
“Our elders used to say that on the second day after rainfall they could sight lights in Sialkot (Pakistan) from this temple”, Dr and priest, Ram Ratan Sharma.
People have abundant reverence and devotion for this sanctum.
However, the locals has said that the last time the sanctum was repaired was in 1984, afterwards it was left in sorry state.
The sanctum’s backyard has a peepal tree which used to lend strength to its structure ,which went dry now and its land is subsiding and it is bending downwards now.
The locals want the temple to be renovated so tourists and future generation can see its glory.
“It is an old temple and it should be renovated as this is our Maharaja’s remaining identity”, said, Mr Darbari Lal, a native person.
Jammu Mayor Rajinder Sharma also said that they will renovate the Rani Kalhuri sanctum under the smart city projects proposal.
