Significant Religious Sites In Jharkhand

The beautiful state of Jharkhand is popular for several significant religious sites that belong to different religious sects. Innumerable devotees visit several of these important religious sites in Jharkhand. Buddhist Stupas, Jain and Hindu temples, Christian churches, and mosques have their places in the state. Among these significant religious sites in Jharkhand, Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu temples have the utmost importance. Below mentioned are a few of them.

Jagannath Mandir, Ranchi

Dedicated to Lord Jagannath, the 17th-century temple was built by King Jagannathpur Thakur. Given its architectural style, the temple closely resembles the famous Jagannath Temple in Puri. Jagannath Mandir is one of the significant religious sites in Jharkhand that is visited by thousands. The hilltop temple collapsed in 1990 and was reconstructed in 1992. The intricate and colorful façade of the temple captivates the attention of everyone visiting the temple premises. A beautiful blend of the Kalinga style of architecture adds more charm to it. Inside the sanctum sanctorum, the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra are placed. Jagamohana and the Nata Mandir are also part of the temple premises. Festivals like Janmashtami, Diwali, Kartik Purnima, and Snana Yatra are celebrated ceremoniously. Notably, an annual rath yatra, much like the one in Puri attracts tens of thousands of devotees from all over.

Maa Dewri Mandir, Tamar

Situated far away from the capital city of Ranchi, Maa Dewri Devi Temple is assumed to have been a sacred grove centuries ago. Later, during the reign of Adivasi king Kera, a temple was erected in the year 1300 AD. The king also installed the idol of the goddess with sixteen arms holding a bow, shield, flower, and param in her arms. The tribal deity is named after Dewri village, where she resides. Although it is a Goddess Durga temple, which is normally depicted with 6 arms, Maa Dewri Devi with her 16 arms is popular here.

The architecture of the temple is unique as it is constructed with stones without the use of any binding material. It is also believed that the Maa Dewri Devi temple is the only place where six tribal priests along with the Brahman priests perform rituals and offer prayers. Sacrificing goats by devotees for the fulfillment of their wishes is a practice here. Since reconstruction of the old temple is considered inauspicious here, a new temple is being constructed near the old one. The Holi festival at the temple is popular. It is one of the most significant religious sites in Jharkhand. It is frequented by celebrities like former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni.

Maluti Temples in Maluti Village

Built by the kings of the Baj Basanta dynasty between the 17th and 19th centuries, Maluti temples are a group of 72 terracotta temples. These temples are dedicated to different gods and goddesses like Shiva, Durga, Kali, and Vishnu. Legend has it that the entire area in Maluti where these temples are built was a gift to a religious-minded Brahmin named Basanta. He and his family built a series of temples, inspired by goddess Mowlakshi, their family deity. Initially, 108 temples were built.

However, only 72 of them have survived the test of time and many of them are in a dilapidated state now. All these temples are built in different styles not following the traditional Nagara, Vesara, or Dravida styles that existed then. Most of the temples here have been built in the traditional ‘Char Chala’ or four-roofed style. The sculptures in the temple represent episodes from the epic Mahabharata and Ramayana and scenes of village life. Some of the carvings and inscriptions shed light on the socio-political history of that period. The location is declared one of the world’s 12 most endangered cultural heritage sites. It is one of the significant religious sites in Jharkhand that you would not want to miss when you are in the state.

Sun Temple, Deoghar

Sun Temple is usually associated with the one in Konark. But the Surya Temple in Deoghar is the pride of the whole of Jharkhand. Dedicated to the sun god, Surya, the temple is believed to have been built during the era of the Gupta dynasty between the 4th the 6th centuries. Constructed in the form of a huge chariot, it is complete with seven horses and nine wheels on either side. The three-story structure of the temple and the temple walls are intricately decorated. The blend of Nagri Architecture, Dravidian architecture, and Vesara architecture styles is influenced by the Konark Temple. Scenes from the Hindu mythology cover the entire area.

One of the beliefs suggests that in the medieval period, people worshipped different gods at different times of the day. Surya along with Lord Brahma in the day, Lord Shiva in the afternoon, and Vishnu in the evening. Thus, the temple also has other deities including Shiva, Parvati, Hanuman, Shiva, Ganesha, Durga, Vishnu, and Ganesha. Chhat festival is the most popular event at the temple.

Itkhori Temples, Chatra

The Archaeological Survey conducted in Chatra has unearthed the presence of the early existence of Jainism in the region. Ancient Jain idols and a pair of footprints said to be of the 10th Tirthankara Sheetal Nath were among the hundreds of Jain and Buddhist remains discovered. Itkhori Temples belonged to the Pala Dynasty of Bengal which ruled between the 7th to the 10th century A.D. As per the legend, Budha visited the place. Once he left, his relatives came looking for him and uttered the word “Itkori” meaning “lost Him here”. Thereafter, the shrine of Mata Bhadrakali in Chattra is also known as Itkohri.

Present Bhadrakali Temple of Chatra is built on the ruins of the temple built by Raja Mahendra Pala Deva. Aligned in the premises are three temples dedicated to Mata Bhadrakali, Lord Shiva, and Hanumanji. A stupa on which 1004 idols of Budha are carved is a notable attraction here. Given the religious significance of the location, the temple is visited by devotees of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

Naulakha Mandir, Deoghar

One of the significant religious sites in Jharkhand is Naulakha Mandir located in Deoghar. Interestingly, the name of the temple is based on the amount spent in constructing it. Back in the early 1900s, nine lakhs rupees were spent to construct the temple by a saint named, Balanand Brahmachari. The temple is dedicated to Lord Radha Krishna. A mix of Bengali and North Indian styles of construction adds charm to the structure. The statue of the god is housed in the inner sanctum adorned with rich jewels. Apart from that beautiful carvings and murals embellish the side walls and roof of the temple. Janmashtami, Radhashtami, and Vaishnav festivals attract thousands of devotees.

The capital city of Jharkhand, Ranchi is famous for the decades-old St. Mary’s Cathedral. The state of Jharkhand has many other churches, Gurudwaras, and Dargahs attracting believers from different corners of the state and the country.