File:0121321 Chaturbhuj Temple, Orchha Madhya Pradesh 048.jpg

English: The Chaturbhuj temple is the largest Hindu temple in Orchha. It is dedicated to four-armed Vishnu. Chaturbhuj literally means 'one who has four arms.'

The construction of Chaturbhuj temple started in the 16th-century during the reign of Madhukar Shah (1554–1592). It was completed in early 17th-century by his son Bir Singh (Veer Singh). The original plan was to consecrate a statue of Rama brought from Ayodhya by Queen Ganesh Kunwari. That statue is now in a Rama temple within the Orchha palace. Instead, the Chaturbhuj temple emerged as a very large Hindu temples complex with a four-armed Vishnu in the main shrine, while other shrines are dedicated to Raghuvanshmani, Radhika Bihari, Panchmukhi, and Shiva.

The Chaturbhuj temple is the dominating Orchha landmark with its five-storey structure topped with over 340-foot spire (sikhara) – making it one of the tallest Hindu temples in central India. It looks like a synthesis of a Hindu temple, a fort and a palace. The temple entrance feels like a gate into a fort. Inside is a massive mandapa, antarala and elaborate garbhagriya. The regional legends remember the temple as a direct challenge to the Mughal emperors in an era that had seen the desecration of numerous Hindu temples. The Bundela dynasty were devout Vaishnava Hindus, whose kings vacillated between friendship and war with the Mughals. They faced much destruction from Mughal invasions, kept rebuilding their temples and monuments. The Chaturbhuj temple's fort like design likely helped it survive.

The Chaturbhuj temple became a Hindu tirtha in the 17th-century, and served as one of the rallying cause to challenge the Mughal hegemony.

Background: Orchha is a small town in north Madhya Pradesh, about 15 kilometers from Jhansi of Uttar Pradesh. Orchha was founded in early 16th-century by the Bundela chief Rudra Pratap, along the Betwa river. It served as the capital of Bundelkhand till the start of the colonial era, and has been called "the heart of Bundelkhand". The Bundela dynasty built a fort, waterworks, and many temples in a style that is syncretic of Hindu architecture, medieval Rajput culture, Mughal influences, along with Paramara era art.

Orchha is midst lush forest and hills. The river Betwa divides it into two. The main section is located on the western bank and includes the Ram Raja Temple, Chaturbhuja Temple, Phool Bagh, Lakshmi Narayana Mandir, and cenotaphs. On the eastern bank is the Fort Palace complex on a cone-shaped island between the rivers Jam and Betwa. Within this Palace complex are the Raja Mahal (oldest), Jahangir Mahal with the greatest fusion of Hindu and Mughal style, Sheesh Mahal, Jan Bhavan, Rai Praveen Mahal, two gardens, and Mughal hammam (baths). The northern part of the island complex has buildings that housed the Bundelkhand army, palace workers and numerous small temples. The palaces are known for their chitrakala (paintings, murals) celebrating the legends of Vaishnavism.

By the 17th-century, Orchha hosted celebrated Hindu scholars and poets, its temples became a Hindu pilgrimage destination. Orchha is now is popular tourist destination, with annual arrivals of over 100 tourists per one resident in town.