Sri Shatrughna Temple is an ancient and lesser-known temple located on the sacred banks of the Ganga River in Rishikesh. It is dedicated to Sri Shatrughna, the younger brother of Sri Ramachandra. He was born to Dasharatha and Sumitra, the third royal queen of the king.
Across the sacred land of Bharat, there are many temples dedicated to Sri Rama, Sita Mata, Lakshmana Ji, and Hanuman Ji, but there are only a few temples dedicated to Sri Shatrughna. One is in Rishikesh; the others are in Brajbhumi and the small town of Payammal in the Thrissur district of Kerala.
The temple was constructed by Adi Guru Sri Shankaracharya in the 9th century to honor the penance performed by Shatrughna on the serene banks of the River Ganga.
This ancient and revered temple is located in the Muni-Ki-Reti, Shivananda Nagar, Tehri Garhwal, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, Bharat. It is located at a distance of short walk from Ram Jhula.
Sthala Purana of Sri Shatrughna Temple
Sri Shatrughna Temple in Rishikesh is a 1,000-year-old lesser-known and distinctive temple, associated with the episode of Ramayana.
Sri Ramachandra after defeating Ravana became the king of Ayodhya. There was peace and dharma established all over the world. But there was one demon named Lavanasura who was tormenting sages, kings, and innocent people around the region of Madhupuri.
Lavanasura was a cruel and violent asura who was born to Madhu and Kumbini. Madhu was a kind asura who established good relationships with brahmanas and devas. He even pleased Bhagavan Shiva, who granted him his divine weapon, trishul. Madhu built a beautiful palace and a city named Madhupuri and ruled with good administration. But his son Lavana was opposite in character and created chaos in the place that disturbed the peace of the sages.
Sage Chyavana, along with other sages, approached Prabhu Sri Ramachandra seeking protection from the tyranny of Lavanasura.
Sri Rama, to establish peace and dharma over the region of Madhupuri, promised the sages to defeat him. Shatrughna volunteered to take up this battle and defeat Lavana. He requested Sri Rama, “please grant me a chance to serve you. Lakshmana and Bharata served you in many ways. At least grant me this opportunity to serve you.”
Sri Rama warned him to wait until the opportunity unless he is unarmed. Seizing the opportunity when Lavanasura was unarmed during his daily ritual bath, Shatrughna defeated him in single combat, using the divine arrow given by Sri Rama.
After defeating Lavanasura, he was crowned as the king of Madhupuri and founded the city of Mathura, which later served as the birthplace of Sri Krishna.
After defeating Lavanasura, Shatrughna performed rigorous tapas in silence on the tranquil banks of the River Ganga in Rishikesh for thousands of years. Since he performed silent tapas, the place was called Maun-ki-Reti, which later changed to Muni-Ki-Reti. Knowing the significance of the place, Adi Guru Sri Shankaracharya constructed a temple at the sacred place.
Architecture of Shatrughna Temple
Shatrughna Temple in Rishikesh is constructed in a simple traditional North Indian Nagara style of architecture. It is constructed using stone material. It is located at such beautiful site, where there is lush green serene atmosphere.
The temple features small garbhariha and mantapa. Inside the garbhagriha of the temple, the divine deity of Lakshmana is seen in a standing posture holding Gada and is made of black stone. There are the other Deities also worshiped inside the garbhagriha. Sri Rama, Sita Mata, and Sri Lakshmana, worshiped along the right side. Towards the left, Adi Badri Narayan and Rishi Valmiki are also worshipped. It is such a divine place to have the darshan of all Deities at one location.
Mantapa is a small area preceding garbhagriha where group prayer and meditation are performed. At the entrance of the temple, there is a huge deity of Hanuman Ji holding Gada and Sanjeevani Parvata. The whole atmosphere is truly a beautiful place to visit.
Festivals Celebrated at Shatrughna Temple
Ram Navami: It is the most celebrated festival of the region, marking the birthday of Sri Rama. On this day, special prayers, Ramayana parayana, and prasad distribution are part of this celebration. The Deities are decorated in grand attire, captivating the eye of the devotees.
Diwali: It is celebrated in the Karthika masa. The temple is decorated with beautiful lit diyas, flower garlands, and the fragrance of incense.
Dussehra: This is the day marked as the victory of Sri Rama over Ravana. There are many special celebrations are held, increasing the festive vibe of the place.
Makar Sankranti: Taking a holy dip in the sacred waters of the River Ganga at Shatrughna Ghat is considered very auspicious on this day.
Gadu Ghada Kalash Yatra: This is a special ceremony where the sesame oil prepared by married women and and the royal family at the Narendra Nagar Raj Darbar are carried in a silver vessel known as Gadu Ghada towards Badrinath. Seeing this sacred kalash is equivalent to having the darshan of Sri Badri Narayana Himself.
Daily Evening Ganga Aarti: Having the glimpse of performing Ganga aarti on the Shatrughna Ghat is truly a divine experience.
Darshan Timings of Shatrughna Temple
Devotees can visit the temple during the following hours:
Morning: 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Evening: 3:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Shatrughna Temple in Rishikesh is from October to March, which offers a cool and pleasant atmosphere.
Also, it is highly recommended to visit Shatrughna Ghat opposite the temple in the evening hours from 5:30 PM to 6:00 PM. It is such a divine experience to view the Ganga aarti on the banks of the Ganga River.
Nearby Places to Visit
Lakshmana Temple: It is a most sacred temple in the city of Rishikesh dedicated to the worship of Lakshmana, brother of Sri Rama. Located near Lakshmana Jhula in Rishikesh, it is a most popular spiritual destination to visit.
Triveni Ghat: It is the most sacred ghat located on the banks of the River Ganga in the city of Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. It is famous for the vibrant evening Ganga aarti. Bathing at this river cleanses the sins of a person who takes a dip in the sacred water.
Parmarth Niketan: It is one of the sites to visit in Rishikesh, known for yoga, meditation, Ganga aarti and spiritual discourse.
Shivananda Ashrama: It is a spiritual center founded by Swami Shivananda Saraswati and Vishnudevananda. This place is best suited for yoga, meditation and spiritual growth.
Trayambakeshwar Temple: It is also known as Trayambakeshwar Temple, dedicated to the worship of Trayambakeshwar another form of Bhagavan Shiva. This is a 13-story structure located near the Lakshman Jhula area.
How to Reach Shatrughna Temple
To have the darshan of stunning Shatughna Temple near Ram Jhula, Join Tirtha Yatra’s Pancha Badri Yatra. Enjoy the benefits of 3-star accommodation, satvik food and excellent narration of Sthala Purana.
By Air: The nearest airport to reach Shatrughna Temple is Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun, located 20 km away from the temple. From here, private taxi, buses are available to reach the place.
By Railway: The nearest railway stations to reach Shatrughna Temple are Yog Nagari Rishikesh Railway Station (4 km), Rishikesh Railway Station (4 km) and Haridwar Railway Station, located 26 km away from the temple. There are many transportation facilities like cabs, pre-paid taxis, private as well as state run buses are available from these railway stations.
By Road: Rishikesh is connected to cities like Haridwar, Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Dharamshala, Shivpuri, Byasi, Tehri, Chamba and more. There are buses and taxis available from these cities to Rishikesh making your journey wonderful, along the Ganges and Shivalik ranges.
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