Incredible tales of Raja Mahal
Raja Mahal is not just an architectural feat, its walls are full of captivating tales. Bundela Rajput King Madhukar Shah was an avid devotee of Lord Krishna while Rani Ganesh Kunwari, Madhukar Shah's wife was dedicated to Lord Rama. According to legend, one day both King (Raja) and Queen (Rani) decided to undertake pilgrimages, the king preferred Mathura while Queen Ganesh Kunwari insisted upon visiting Ayodhya. After engaging in a heated debate over their pilgrimages' destinations, neither could change either party's mind. After becoming frustrated with the situation, the King became very infuriated and told the Queen to travel alone to Ayodhya and bring back her deity within 72 hours or face being barred entry at Raja Mahal.
The queen made her way to Ayodhya and began praying earnestly, yet Lord Rama did not appear after two to three months of waiting. Feeling despaired, she considered suicide by leaping into the Saryu River yet miraculously as soon as she made contact with water, Lord Rama appeared before her and expressed his pleasure with her devotion. Then Lord Rama agreed to accompany her but placed three conditions upon this offer.
At first, Ayodhya to Orchha had to be travelled on foot for 24 hours during Pushya Nakshatra when the queen brought Lord Rama to Orchha. Pushya Nakshatra proved most auspicious for this purpose. The second condition was that wherever Lord Rama dwelt, he should be treated as a monarch. At Orchha, Raja Madhukar Shah gave Lord Rama his crown and conducted his royal coronation ceremony; thus, creating this unique temple where Lord Rama is worshipped as an actual monarch with guards of honour being placed around it.
At last, Lord Rama's first seat in Orchha would become his temple. According to legend, Madhukar Shah began construction of Chaturbhuj Temple for Lord Rama; however, when Queen Arundhati arrived the construction remained incomplete, and she placed Lord Rama in her kitchen instead as per Hindu tradition where kitchens are seen as holy after temples are completed - thus giving Orchha its divine capital status and becoming home for Ram Raja Temple in kitchen.