Ram Kund Mandir

K.D Maini
Ramkund is a symbol of our ancient culture, art and traditions.  This is the oldest temple in Poonch region. As per the Archaeological report, this beautiful temple was built by Raja LalitaDitya (i.e. between 724 AD and 761 AD) because the style, architect and the age of the temple is the same as of those temples built by Raja Lalitaditya in Kashmir. This temple was very attractive but remained out of sight due to locational disadvantages.  Now this old shrine is regaining its erstwhile status.
Ramkund temple is located in a sleepy village Narol of Mendhar tehsil 62 kilometers from Poonch township.  This important religious place is located in a deep gorge at the foothill of ShahStarRange of mountains from all sides.  At present, there are three sacred ponds apart from the ancient temple. They are known as Ram Kund, LachmanKund and SitaKund. Ramkund is  bigger in size (25′ X 25′), than LachmanKund and  SitaKund and a bit elevated from the other two. A spring emerges exactly on the northern side of Ramkund. The water of this spring pours into Ramkund  which overflows to LachmanKund and at last to SitaKund. The later is the smallest in size. These kunds have been excavated in such a way that the water of spring after filling all the kunds flows out in nallah.  On the eastern side of Ramkund, there is a historical temple of 8th century.  Stone structure stair case begins from the eastern side of  Ramkund upto the entrance of the temple.  At present, there is an idol of Hanuman which was installed in the temple in the recent past. On the northern side, a small structure houses the residence of Pujari and a cowshed. A ‘Kutiya’ has also been constructed near the temple for Sadhus and pilgrims. The western side of this holy  place is surrounded by banana trees and small garden of plums which gives this place look of an ‘Ashraam’.
A big religious congregation is held on 14th of ‘Chaitra (March) every year and is known as ‘MelaChetarChodas’. Devotees from all parts of Poonch and Rajouri districts participate in it.  People after taking a dip in the holy water or kunds offer prayers in the temple and take part in ‘BhajanKirtan’ organized by the ‘Mandlies’ (Groups). The religious programme continues for one full day.
As per Rajtarangni  of Kalhan there is a very interesting story behind the construction of this temple. Kalhana  narrates that Raja Lalita ditya who was a great warrior and had converted Poonch town into Chawani (cantonment) of his forces and named this place as Purn-Utsva (with the passage of time, this name became Poonch from Purn-Utsva). Kalhan writes that once Raja Lalita ditya  left for hunting in a jungle; he reached this place in the evening. At this very solitary place he saw in the nearby a  girl singing a devotional song while a beautiful girl was dancing in this uninhabited place. When the devotional song was over, both the girls  bowed their heads at this place and left. The next day also the same thing was repeated by the same girls.  Then Raja Lalita ditya came before these girls and enquired from them why they were dancing and singing their devotional song at a lonely place in the jungle.  The girls replied that they were devdassis and doing so on the direction of their mothers and grand mothers.  “This is our traditional job but we do not know the reason of our dancing at this place”. Raja thought that there may be some sacred place in the past at that spot. Next day he ordered for the excavation of that particular place where the devdassis were offering prayer in the evening. After some excavation, two old temples came out on the surface from the earth whose doors were shut.  When  Raja opened the door, he saw that two idols of Keshav were installed there.  On the back of these idols, it was engraved that these idols were installed by RamchanderJi during his visit to Kashmir.  Raja Lalita ditya took out these idols to Kashmir along with him and he installed the idol of  Ram ChanderJi in the temple of Vishnu Parihas in Parihaspura, while the second idol was taken by the Queen and she installed it in Chakrshveri temple.
It appears that while taking the original idols from Ramkund temple, Raja  Lalitaditya got it renovated or reconstructed the original excavated monument with some additions and converted this place into an important religious shrine.  No doubt that Raja Lalitaditya had built Poonch city but at present, there is no such building existing in the area which may date Lalitaditya’s time except Ramkund temple Mendhar.  This is the only temple in this region which indicates the presence of  Lalitaditya in Poonch district.
Mr. Stein who translated Raj- tarangni of Kalhan a visited Poonch in 1892 AD and identified a  number of places like Loharkote (Loran).  Attalika (Atoli).  Saramber (Chamber Kanari) Sawvernik (Surankote) mentioned in the Raj tarangni.  But he could not identify  Ram Kund Temple of Raja Lalitaditaya’s time because this temple was located in a very unknown place which was far away from the main route leading towards Kashmir in those days.  All the habitants of this area were non-Hindus. Even most of the hindus were knowing very little about this shrine in the past.  Therefore, they could not talk about this temple to Stein indicated that this temple was located in the Southern side of Kashmir.
The other proof is the devdassis reported to Raja Lalitaditya that they belong to a nearby village known as SoverDehmana at that time.  This village is still exists near Narol (where temple exists) and known as Dharana instead of Dehmana.  Therefore, on the facts given above, it is clear that Ramkund is the same temple which was excavated and reconstructed by Raja Lalitaditya in 8th Century.

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