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Laxmi Narayan Temple

Lakshminarayan Temple Chamba , Himachal Pradesh

Regarded as the oldest as well as the largest one in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, the Laxmi Narayan Temple attracts a whole lot of visitors. The six temples in the Laxmi Narayan Temple complex are arranged from north to south and are dedicated to either Shiva or Vishnu. There are also some other temples housed in the complex which together make it extremely attractive. These other shrines include the temple of Radha Krishna, Shiva Temple of Chandergupta and Gauri Shankar Temple.

Though built in the 10th century, the Laxmi Narayan Temple continued to be decorated by rajas who occupied the throne of Chamba afterwards. For example Raja Balabhadra Verma added the metallic image of Garuda on a high pillar at the main gate of the temple while Raja Chhatra Singh contributed the gilded pinnacles on the temple tops. The latter was done as a protest against the orders of Aurangzeb to destroy the temple.

The Legend of Laxmi Narayan Temple

The legend of the temple states that Raja Sahil Verma, who constructed this temple, sent nine of his sons to the Vindhyas mountains to get marble which was suitable for the construction of the Vishnu idol. The marble brought contained a frog. This was considered inauspicious and the sons were again sent to bring back the marble slab. However, all the sons got killed while on their way back. The king did not give up and sent his eldest son to fetch the marble. He was also attacked by the robbers, but with the help of a saint he managed to both save himself and kill his attackers. Yugkara, the eldest prince returned successfully with the required slab which was used to make the image of Lord Vishnu in the temple.

Architecture of the Temple

The Laxmi Narayan Temple is constructed in the Shikhara style. There is Bimana (Shikhara), garbhgriha and also a mandapa like structure. The wooden chattris and the shell roofs reflect the climactic condition of the place where snowfall is quiet expected.

Timings of the Temple

The Lakshmi Narayan Temple complex is opened first between 6 am to 12.30 pm and then from 2.30 to 8.30 pm.