Odogaon Raghunath Temple

Odogaon Raghunath Temple

Odagaon Raghunath Temple is dedicated to Lord Rama, located in the town of Odagaon, Nayagarh district of Odisha.Here the neem wood-made Lord Raghunath Jew (Ram), Laxman, Mata Sita is worshipped.

The temple dates from the middle Ages and is an important pilgrimage centre in Odisha. It is built in a typical Kalinga style of architecture and is topped by 3 golden kalashas.

According to legend, the place was the Yagna Kunda of Atri Muni. According to Nayagarh history, the 19th king of Nayagarh, Mrityujay Singh, built the temple in 1763. Shri Raghunath Jew temple is divided into three parts, Bhadra Mandap, Nata Mandap and Darshan Mandap. Besides this temple, Maa Durga, Sri Narsingh, Navagraha, Suryamandir, Ganesh Mandir, Narayan Mandir etc. are worshipped in the vicinity of this temple. Every day devotees from different parts of Odisha come here to worship Lord Raghunath.

This is probably the most prominent place for Sri Rama worshiping in entire Eastern India. When I first saw the ‘Raghunath Jew Temple’ of Odagaon in Nayagarh, it appeared me more a Royal palace than an ordinary temple. Generally in a traditional Ram Temple, you see Lord Ram along with Sita and Laxman are royally dressed in the ‘Avisheka Vesa’. Here the three idols are dressed in the ‘Vanavasi’ attire that they wore during the exile in the forest. Beards and moustaches are clearly visible on the faces of Lord Rama & Laxmana.

A popular legend associated with temple states that famous poet of 17th century, Kavisamrat Upendra Bhanja, had composed his magnum opus- Baidehisha Vilas, here at the feet of Sri Raghunath. Ramanavami is the most important festival celebrated here.