In this episode, let us continue to look into some divine places of worship or temples dedicated to Rama as relevant to this blog. If we can remember we have already briefly learnt about the Ram mandirs in Ayodhya, Bhadrachalam, Rameswaram and Nashik earlier. I was aware of the first three and learning about the remaining as I contribute for this blog. Such is the expanse of the land and belief found deep and buried within the fabric of India, no one person with little experience can know about all of the most beautiful places of worship for Rama throughout the land. As mentioned, Ram mandir in Ayodhya was built just few years back as the country is slowly evolving and realizing the importance of this unknown side. Likewise, the Ram mandirs across the country are talked about little with less interest outside the location. There is a need to permeate knowledge and consciousness on a handful prominent places of worship celebrating Rama and his ideals to spread the same across the country and far outside. As we are almost completing learning about the epic Ramayana, we can also take a journey to learn about his most popular and still less known places of worship to spread reflections of the divine being. In our effort to spread this Rama consciousness on the land practically, the places of worship need to be the epicenters of the same. As these are neglected for much of the past, we can bring them back to prominence to awaken the masses and everyone alike on the knowledge and memory of divine name. This is the way to usher a new world with hope and ideals ingrained deep into our everyday living.
In the spirit, let us learn about Ram Raja temple in Orchha, Madhya Pradesh. As mentioned, no one knows more than 3-4 prominent Ram mandirs in India. This needs to be vastly improved in this day and age to parallel the rise of Ram in Ayodhya. Ram Raja Temple in Orchha, MP is special because it treats Lord Rama not just like a god—but like a king as the name of temple suggests. It's the only temple in India where Rama is worshipped as a ruler. Every day, he’s given respect just like a real king: with guards, salutes, and royal ceremonies. The story behind this temple is interesting. A queen named Ganesh Kunwari brought an idol of Lord Rama from Ayodhya. She had promised that wherever she placed the idol first, it would stay there. When she got home to Orchha, she placed it temporarily in her palace. But after that, the idol wouldn’t move. So her palace had to become a temple—and that's how Lord Rama came to rule there. Inside the temple, everything feels royal. Even the aarti (prayer ceremony) happens like it’s being done in front of a king. There’s a flag outside like at a fort, and soldiers stand guard to honor him. People visit from all over to see Lord Rama in his kingly role. They’re not just praying—they’re showing respect like they would to a real monarch. It’s quiet, beautiful, and full of devotion. The Ram Raja Temple in Orchha features a palace-style design with soft pink, yellow, and white hues. Originally Queen Ganesh Kunwari’s residence, it lacks typical temple towers. Its domed roof and marble courtyard reflect royal simplicity, blending Mughal and Bundela influences into a serene, regal atmosphere befitting Lord Rama’s kingship in a simple presentation. Annually, the temple welcomes around 650,000 domestic tourists and approximately 25,000 foreign visitors, making it one of the most prominent pilgrimage destinations in Madhya Pradesh. Learning about this temple is relevant now as we are into Uttara Kanda where Rama begins his role as ruler of Ayodhya who would later become the greatest and most ideal king ever known and heard, giving utmost importance to the interests of people of the land for hundreds of years, even above his personal interests.
Coming back to the story, we have looked at the episode of repercussions of a small mistake committed by those in power over the entire kingdom in last few posts through the tale of Danda and how the kingdom was reduced to Dandaka aranya. This tale was also interpreted to the modern-day figures or important persons wielding power influencing everyone on Earth. Upon listening to this tale, Rama takes leave of Agasthya and returns to kingdom. There he summons Bharata and Lakshmana to perform Rajasuya sacrifice which was softly opposed by Bharata. We can look at the continuation in following chapters.
In chapter 84, the story is Vrita is discussed.
After Rama’s discussion with Bharata, Lakshmana respectfully addressed Rama, urging him to undertake the Ashvamedha (Horse) Sacrifice, which is renowned for removing all sins and serving as an infallible means of purification. Lakshmana highlighted that the sacrifice aligns with Rama’s role as the upholder of dharma and would further sanctify his reign.
To emphasize its importance, Lakshmana cited the Puranic story of Indra (Vasava), who was once tainted by the grave sin of killing a brahmin (brahmanicide). Indra, to cleanse himself of this sin, performed the Ashvamedha Sacrifice and was purified, illustrating the ritual’s unparalleled power in absolving even the most severe sins.
Lakshmana then narrated the story of Vritra, a powerful and noble Daitya (demon) who lived during a time when the Devas (gods) and Asuras (demons) maintained peace. Vritra was immense in size, with a body a hundred leagues wide and three times that in height. Despite his immense power, Vritra was compassionate, wise, and just, ruling his kingdom with integrity and kindness. Under his reign, the earth flourished abundantly, producing fruits, flowers, and roots without cultivation, and prosperity prevailed throughout his kingdom.
As time passed, Vritra recognized the transience of material pleasures and concluded that asceticism was the highest form of joy, surpassing all worldly happiness. Driven by this realization, he appointed his eldest son as the King of Madhura to care for his people and renounced his throne to pursue rigorous penance, which soon began to cause concern among the gods.
Seeing Vritra’s growing spiritual power from his intense austerities, Indra (Vasava) became deeply worried, fearing that Vritra’s penance would make him invincible, placing the gods under his control forever. In his distress, Indra approached Vishnu, acknowledging that only Vishnu’s divine intervention could address the looming threat.
Indra explained to Vishnu that Vritra, through his strict penance and virtue, had effectively conquered the worlds and that if his austerities continued, he would dominate the cosmos indefinitely. Indra pleaded with Vishnu to protect the universe and restore balance, emphasizing that all beings, including the gods, look to Vishnu as their ultimate refuge when they have no other support.
In chapter 85, the death of Vrita is narrated.
After Lakshmana encouraged Rama to undertake the Ashvamedha Sacrifice, Rama requested Lakshmana to narrate the remainder of the story regarding the destruction of Vritra. Obediently, Lakshmana, delight of Sumitra, continued the exalted account.
Lakshmana described how, in the past, Indra (Lord of a Thousand Eyes) and all the gods, troubled by the growing power of Vritra due to his intense austerities, approached Vishnu for assistance. They pleaded with Vishnu, urging him to slay Vritra to protect the cosmic order and preserve the peace of the worlds.
Vishnu, however, explained to the gods that he shared an ancient bond with the magnanimous Vritra and, therefore, could not directly kill him. Yet, Vishnu assured the gods that he would provide them a way to defeat Vritra without violating this bond. Vishnu revealed that he would divide his essence into three parts: one-third would enter Indra (Vasava), another third would enter Indra’s thunderbolt, and the final third would enter the bosom of the earth. Through these means, Vritra could be slain by Indra.
Hearing Vishnu’s plan, the gods expressed their faith in his words, proclaiming that his declaration would surely manifest, and they praised him, wishing him victory before taking leave, now empowered by Vishnu’s essence, to face Vritra.
The gods, led by Indra, proceeded to the retreat of Vritra, where they beheld the powerful asura radiating an effulgence so intense that it appeared to consume the worlds and the sky itself, filling the gods with fear. As they trembled, unsure how to defeat Vritra, Indra, the destroyer of cities, took up the thunderbolt infused with Vishnu’s essence and hurled it upon Vritra’s head, striking him down with the weapon that blazed like the Fire of Time.
The impact was so formidable that it terrified all the worlds, and Vritra was slain. However, after killing Vritra, Indra became aware of the grave sin of brahmanicide he had committed by killing Vritra, who was considered righteous due to his penance. Fearful and burdened with this sin, Indra fled in haste to the ends of the world, but the sin of brahmanicide pursued him relentlessly, causing him great suffering and affliction.
Though their enemy was defeated, the gods found themselves without their leader. They, led by Agni, approached Vishnu once again, offering him their homage and acknowledging him as the Supreme Master and Father of the Universe. They praised him as the protector of the worlds and thanked him for his assistance in defeating Vritra, but they expressed concern for Indra, who was now suffering due to the sin incurred from killing Vritra.
Vishnu listened to their plea and responded, advising that Indra should perform a sacrifice in Vishnu’s honour to cleanse himself of the sin. Specifically, Vishnu instructed that Indra should undertake the Ashvamedha (Horse) Sacrifice, assuring that by performing this sacred ritual, Indra would be freed from the bondage of sin and restored to his rightful place as King of the Gods without fear of retribution.
After giving this guidance, Vishnu, the Lord of the Celestials, returned to Trivishtapa (the celestial realm) as the gods praised him, ensuring that balance was restored to the worlds and that Indra had a clear path to redemption through the power of sacrifice.
This concludes chapters 84 and 85 of Uttara Kanda where we had seen the story of Vrita narrated by Lakshmana to Rama. Lakshmana wants Rama to perform Ashvamedha (Horse) Sacrifice as it would absolve Rama of all his sins and would further sanctify his reign. He narrates the story of Vrita where Indra would be performing the same sacrifice to relieve himself from the sin of brahmanicide. The story about Vrita, his intense penance and his killing by Indra, the lord of Gods has been studied and we can look at how Indra is liberated in subsequent posts.
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