Shriram Mandir Chandan Nagar: A temple with a difference By Rajendra Diwe : Shriram Mandir situated in Chandan Nagar locality of city is 183-year-old temple with some unique and rare features. This temple was built by a very beautiful dancer Chandan Bai who was Raj Nartaki in Raghuji Raje Bhonsale (III) kingdom. The temple was built in 1837 and Chandan Bai brought the unique idols carved in Gandaki stone from Kathmandu Nepal. Now the area is known as Chandan Nagar and the temple is famous as Shrimati Chandanbai Ram Mandir Devasthan said Dr Sheshashayan Deshmukh indologist and promoter of Warsa Darshan a project by Vidarbha Sanshoshan Mandal. This temple belongs to Trikut type of temple architecture. It has three Garbhagruha an Antaral and a Sabhamandap. Out of the three Garbhagruha an idol of Shriram and Sita is placed in the main Garbhagruha. The idol is unique and rare he added. Ram Raksha is a powerful stotra in Sanskrit. In the Dhyan part of this Stotra there is a description of Shriram and Sita as VaamankarudhaSita mukakamalamilal lochanam neera daabham | Naanaalankaara deeptam dadhatamurujataamandalam Ramachandram || Thie means: “I meditate on he who has arms reaching his knees who is holding a bow and arrows who is seated in a lotus pose; who is wearing yellow clothes whose eyes compete with petals of a fresh lotus who looks contented. Whose sight is fixed on the lotus face of Sita sitting on his left thigh whose color is like that of rain cloud. Who shines in various ornaments and has matted hair which can reach till thighs the Ramchandra.” Dr Sheshashayan Deshmukh said this unique idol placed in the main Garbhagruha of this temple perfectly describes the meditative hymn of Shriram Raksha. This idol is very rare and sacred as the complete Dashavatars are carved on the back side of this idol he added. Generally the Shriram temples in the country have Shriram Panchatayan means the idols of Shriram Laxman and Sita in standing position while Hanuman bowing infront of them. While this is the only temple where Sita is sitting on the left thigh of Lord Ram who is in sitting posture with right hand in Dnyan Mudra Dr Deshmukh pointed out.

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