contribution of tajpur state towards religion
The Raja’s of the Tajpur State are “Surya Vanshi” , hence they worship the Sun God. Ram Kishen Sahib moved from Azampur to Tajpur in the 18th century. At Tajpur a huge Fort was constructed by Ram Kishen Sahib. He constructed the Surya Temple, the Kadam Devta Temple and the Ma Kali Temple for the people of his State. His successors constructed Lord Krishna Temple, Ma Chamunda Devi Temple, Ma Sheetla Temple and Lord Shiva Temple. They were all constructed inside the magnificent Tajpur Fort. Raja Bahadur Jagat Singh Sahib constructed the famous Hathi Wala Temple in Moradabad, UP, Raja Francis Xavier Shiam Rikh and Kunwar Sylvester Norbert Shiva Nath Rikh constructed the Sacred Heart Church. Raja-Ka-Tajpur and Raja Jasjit Sahib constructed the Gurudwara, “SHRI SINGH SABHA” at Raja-Ka-Tajpur.
surya temple at tajpur
the “surya temple”
Ram Kishen Sahib constructed the Surya Temple inside the Fort. This temple was for the worship of Sun God by the members of the Royal family. Prayers were offered every morning and evening. Today the temple is in front of Mahal Sarai Palace at Tajpur. Every day a Deepak is lit and prayers are offered in the morning and evening.
ma kali temple
Ma Kali Temple was constructed by Ram Kishen Sahib inside the Tajpur Fort. This is a Shakti Peeth. It was earlier a Math. It is believed that Goddess Kali had stayed at the Math for few days. After the famous Kali temple at Kali Badi in Kolkatta this is the second most sacred temple of Ma Kali. Every year lacs of devotees from different part of the country come to worship Ma Kali. The temple today is in the heart of Raja-Ka-Tajpur town.
lord krishan ji temple
Lord Krishna temple was constructed by Ram Kishen Sahib, in the Eastern part of the Tajpur Fort. Close to the temple is” Purana Kuan” (Old Well). Even today devotees offer prayers every day. Krishan Janam Ashtami (Birth of Lord Krishan Ji) is celebrated with fanfare.
kadam devta temple
This temple was constructed by Ram Kishen Sahib on the banks of Karula River near Norbert House close to the Sacred Heart Church in Tajpur. Once Ram Kishen Sahib was hunting, he spotted a Lion and shot him on the leg. When he along with his men were searching the injured Lion, he saw a saint whose leg was bleeding siting under Kadam Tree. Ram Kishen Sahib immediately touched the feet of saint for forgiveness, the Saint blessed him and thereafter disappeared. Ram Singh Sahib constructed the Kadam Devta Temple at that place. People from nearby villages worship in the temple as their wishes are fulfilled. On ever Monday devotees visit the temple to offer Prasad and seek blessings. On 10 June every year thousands of devotees from nearby villages gather to offer prayers. The food is prepared and distributed to all devotees.
hathi wala mandir
The famous Hathi temple at Moradabad,Uttar Prasesh was built in early eighteenth century (More than 200 years ago) by the Raja Bahadur Jagat Singh Sahib of Tajpur State. It is located in Goyaan Mohalla (Goyaan Locality) on the banks of river Ram Ganga. Raja Bahadur Jagat Singh of Tajpur State once while crossing the river Ganges at Moradabad, his favourite elephant on whom he was seated got stuck in the quick sand, despite best efforts the elephant could not be taken out of the quick sand. He therefore pledged to construct a temple on the bank of river Ganges if the Elephant was rescued. Surprisingly his favourite elephant was rescued and thereafter he constructed the famous Hathi Wala Temple on the bank of river Ganges.
The Hathi Wala Temple after it was constructed was handed over to the Vaid (Priest/Pujari) to look after the temple. For long time the decendants of Vaid looked after the temple carring out the daily prayers.The local people in 1977 formed a Trust to look after and maintain the temple.
There are two elephats in front of Lord Shiva Temple. The idol of Lord Shiva is placed in the temple is the most worshiped as the devotee’s wishes are full filled if he worships lord Shiva by lighting a Deepak daily for 40 days. In Sawan (Holy month when Lord Shiva is worshiped across the country) the devotees of Lord Shiva very religiously worship and perform the very pious Prayer “Rudra Abhishek”. Every Monday during Sawan, Milk and Water are poured on Shiv Ling. All arrangements for the stay of Kavariyas (Devotees) who walk on foot to holy city of Haridwar which is 200 Kilometres from Moradabad, who go on foot to Haridwar to get the water from River Ganges. Devotees from far of places visit this temple to worship.
Ram Darbar Temple is located close to the Lord Shiva Temple. In this temple idols of Lord Ganesha, Lord Ram, Sita Ji, Laxman Ji, Panch Mukhi, Hanuman Ji, Goddess Durga Ji and Lord Krishna. In 2016, Raja Shailenderjit Singh Sahib, Rajkumar Inderjt Singh, Rajkumari Anusuya and Colonel Sandeep Sharma, the members of the Tajpur Royal family visited the temple and met the Pujari. He was very happy to meet and narrated the incidents narrated to him by his father and Great Grandfather about the history of this famous temple. Raja Shailenderjit Singh and Rajkumar Inderjit Singh assured him for any kind of assistance in smooth running of the Hathi Wala Temple.
ma chamunda devi temple
Goddess “Chamunda Devi” is the Kul Devi of Tajpur family. Goddess Chamunda Devi is an Avtar of Goddess Durga. Goddess Chamunda is epitome of strength. This temple was constructed in the southern part of Tajpur Fort. Today it is located on the outer side of Tajpur. The temple was renovated by Raja Jasjit Singh Sahib, as it was damaged. During Durga Puja and Nav Ratri Pooja, the prayers for nine days are performed by thousands of devotees from nearby village. Raja Shailendrajit Singh Singh Sabib placed the idols and made additions in early 1990’s.
lord shiva temple
Lord Shiva Temple was constructed by Raja Dig Bijai Singh on the out skirts of Tajpur Town. It has temples of other Gods and Goddesses. Shiv Ratri is celebrated here every year, thousands of devotee’s worship here and seek blessings. In early 1990’s The Lord Shiva Idol at the entrance was placed by Raja Verendrajit Singh Sahib and Raja Shailendrajit Singh made two temples and a Dharamshala where Sanskrit Patshala (School).
ma sheetla mata temple
Goddess Ma Sheetla Mata is Avtar of Goddess Durga. This temple was constructed by Raja Dig Bijai Singh. It is close to Ma Chamunda Devi Temple. Regular prayers are being Offered by the devotees. Raja Shailendrajit Singh Sahib replaced the idol of Goddess in early 1990’s.
The sacred heart church was built by Raja Francis Xavier Shiam Rikh and his younger brother Kunwar Sylvester Norbert Shiva Nath Rikh on 18 November 1913 in Raja- Ka-Tajpur, District Bijnor,UP,
The first stone was laid in 1907 which met with great opposition from the local population and a letter of protest was sent Father Romulus. Nevertheless, the construction continued as an exact replica of the Mangalore church which by then had become an obsession with the Raja Francis Xavier Shiam Rikh. On the 18th November 1913 the church and the presbytery were completed and the consecration was done the archbishop of Agra Monsignor Carlo Gentile.
The style of the church was a compromise between the Italian churches of the 13th century and the Norman style. This was a controversial reply to the Neo gothic style of the Anglican churches and government building that were being construction all over Indian and in particular around Bombay ever since 1880. The exterior of the churches was rather austere and conflicted with the interior depicting artistic decoration harmonizing the two grand style the ogival of the middle ages on the hand and the Florentine renaissance on the other. Fr Romulus recalls in his diaries Catani’s desire make the church a ‘jewel’.
The Sacred Heart Church is the second biggest church in UP. It has an Orphanage, a School for poor people and a Dispensary, which could treat snake bite cases also. The Sunday mass is being attended by people from nearby villages. Christmas is celebrated in a big way. Devotees come to the church from the neighbouring Districts to celebrated.
gurudwara at raja-ka-tajpur
Raja Jasjit Sahib, was religious person. When he saw that his subjects who follow Sikhism did not have a place for offering prayers, he donated the land and constructed The Gurudwara, “SHRI SINGH SABHA” which is a place of assembly and worship for Sikhs. The Gurudwara is located near the Mahal Sarai Palace in Raja-Ka-Tajpur. Rajkumar Inderjit Singh grandson of Raja Jasjit Singh Sahib donated additional land for expansion of the Gurudwara as per the wish of his uncle Raja VerendraJit Singh Sahib.
