Rajim is one of the most important historic pilgrimage site of Chhattisgarh. It is located near the confluence (sangam) of Mahanadi and Pairi rivers. Regional tradition includes the Sondur river – that joins about 20 miles away – to be a part of this tirtha-kshetra. Rajim was a capital in historic times, and used to be one of the stops for pilgrims from central and northern India heading to Bhubaneswar–Puri.
Rajim has some of the oldest, better preserved beautiful carved stone temples in Chhattisgarh. The temples are found on both banks of the Mahanadi river, the most notable and the largest collection of Hindu temples are found on the east bank. These date from about the 6th century to the 12th century. Excavations completed since 2012 have unearthed the ruins of lost temples near sites such as the Sita Bari. So far, archaeological studies have been limited to the eastern side of the Mahanadi river.
The most notable temple in Rajim is the Rajiv Lochana temple dedicated to Vishnu. It is from the 6th to 7th century. The pillars, doorway and wall reliefs are exquisitely carved, almost like jewelry. The Ganga, Yamuna, Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, Krishna, Buddha, other Vishnu avatars, Durga, Shiva, Naga, musicians, dancers, namaste postures, kama mithuna scenes are all impressive. Other temples in the Rajiv Lochana temples complex include the Badri-Narayana temple, the Rajeshvara-Dhaneshwara temples, the Vamana temple, the Varaha temple and the Narasimha temple. One of the mandapas has a Buddha statue, brought to this temple complex to preserve it. The statue was discovered at another site along the Mahanadi river (Rajim–Sirpur region has numerous Buddhist, Hindu and Jain historic sites).
To the east of the Rajiv Lochana temples complex, across the river is the historic Kuleshvara temple of Navagaon – a Shiva temple. The temple is notable for its high octagonal jagati (platform) – likely a feature that has helped the temple withstand the monsoon floods. The life-size artwork on mandapa pilasters, the Kartikeya, the Mahisasuramardini and the scene depicting a woman riding a horse are also notable.
To the south of Rajiv Lochana temple is the restored Ramachandra temple. In its mandapa is an exquisite collection of 7th to 9th century carvings brought from other lost Hindu temples in this region. These form a part of the pillars, pilasters, inner wall and doorway panels. The artwork depict scenes from Vishnu, Shiva and Shakti legends. Local folklore – such as those mentioned by Alexander Cunningham – state that this temple was rebuilt about the 17th to 18th century with artwork collected from Sirpur temple ruins.
Location: 20.96396 N, 81.877581 E
- Southeast of Raipur (50 kilometers)
- Southwest of Sirpur (80 kilometers)
- near Highway 30 and 130.
- Rajivlochan–Ramachandra temples of Rajim
- Rajim group of temples
- Rajim-Sirpur archaeological sites
- Rajamalapura temples
- Rajam temples
- Kamal kshetra of Daksina kosala
- Chitrotpala–Utpaleshwar temples
- Sirpur, Chhattisgarh
- Arang, Chhattisgarh
- Fingeshwar, Chhattisgarh
- Krishna Deva (1995), Temples of India
- DM Stadtner (1976), From Sirpur to Rajim: the art of Kosala during the seventh century, University of California Berkeley
- Douglas Barrett and Moreshwar Dikshit (1960), Mukhalingam Sirpur and Rajim temples, Heritage of Indian Art Series, Vol 2.
- Odette Viennot (1958), Le Temple de Ramachandra a Rajim, Arts Asiatiques, École française d’Extrême-Orient
- Saurabh Saxena (2011), Rajim – Prayaga of Chattisgarh
