Madhorao Temple of Mandi
Raja Suraj Sen of Mandi married several times but was unfortunate to be blessed with a heir-apparent, the son. He consulted the scholars well versed in the religious ‘ Shastras ‘ and the astrologers. On their advice he abdicated his kingship to Madhorao, the form of Vishnu and spent the rest of his life as his regent and representative.
To get emancipation from after-death distress and sin, this ingenious way was found out. The idol of Madhorao is made of silver and was established in 1648 A.D. A goldsmith named Bhim made it.
This idol reminds one of Vishnu reclining on the ocean of milk ‘ Khsheersagar ‘. The temple is situated on the ground floor of the Damadama old palace. The engravings of Krishna playing his flute, cows, Ganesh with his two wives ‘Ridhi’ and ‘Siddhi’ , Shiva-Parvati riding on the back of Nandi.
In the sanctum sanctorum, firstly there is a marble basement. This basement is in the shape of flowering lotus. Then there is the silver pedestal with figures of ‘ Radha-Krishna ‘. On the occasions of Shivratri, Holi, Krishna Janamashtami and other religious festivals, the bearers take out the idol of Madhorao in palanquin and the people of Mandi offer their prayers to Madhorao.