Terracotta Temples In West Bengal

Since the Indus Valley civilization, terracotta or burnt clay has been widely used in India. While terracotta is used in many parts of India, particularly for religious artifacts, domestic objects, and toys, the form and style of terracotta vary from place to place, reflecting local customs and social conventions.

 

Burnt bricks have also been used to construct temples in the eastern portion of the nation, particularly in West Bengal, where they are sometimes covered with intricately carved terracotta panels. India Post released a commemorative collection of seven stamps that showcase some of the state's most well-known and lesser-known temples, including those in Chattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh. The majority of these temples are easily accessible and may be visited even in the winter. 

1. Char Bangla Temple

The Char Bangla temple rests on a 1.5-foot-high base, with two roofed Bengal Chala on each of its four temples, earning it the name Char Bangla, a distinctive style not seen elsewhere. Each temple has three doorways and three shiva lingas in the sanctums. Three of the four temples are connected by a common platform, but the northern temple stands alone. The Char Bangla's northern temple has the most terracotta adornment, including scenes from Puranic legends, stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, narratives from the Krishna-Leela, many forms of the mother goddess, and daily scenes from village life. A magnificent image of Shiva seated on a platform, with his two disciples Nandi and Bhringi diligently preparing hookah and bhaang for him, maybe found among the several plaques on the northern temple. A stunning central arch depicting Ravana can be found in the western temple. The eastern temple is especially notable for its stucco work, which contrasts with the terracotta work seen elsewhere; nonetheless, the stucco work was created using an etching method, which is also used elsewhere.

2. Rasmancha Temple

The most popular place for tourists to begin their Bishnupur temple tour is Rasmancha. "Rasmancha was not originally a temple, but rather an elevated platform with mazed archways where people began meeting on special occasions and even worshipping. The idols and images of Lord Krishna are placed in the galleries during religious festivals. The structure is made of an indigenous mortar made of lentils, spices, milk, and rice husk. 

Rasmancha temple is distinctive in that it has an elongated pyramid-like tower encircled by hut-shaped turrets, which were common in Bengali roof structures at the time. 

Tourists can travel to the southern collection of temples from Rasmancha. The most recognizable features of these temples are single spires, curved roofs, and arches, which are all composed of laterite. The architecture style is a mash-up of influences from Odisha, West Bengal, and Persia, rather than being specific to one location. The Radhashyam temple is the best maintained of these.

3. Radhashyam Temple

Radhashyam temple is enclosed by a boundary wall and lies within a dome-shaped enclosure. Along with its religious significance, the temple is noted for its beautiful architecture, making it one of Bishnupur's most popular tourist destinations. The Archaeological Survey of India looks after the temple because of its historical significance and heritage value (ASI). The Radhashyam temple is regarded as the region's living shrine, with images of Lord Krishna and Radha enshrined in the sanctum. The images of Nityananda and Chaitanya can also be found in the sanctum. Another shrine near the temple has the idols of Lord Jagannath of Puri, as well as the saints Nityananda and Chaitanya. Thousands of people visit this lovely temple in Bishnupur throughout the year; some come to pay their respects, while others come to admire its stunning splendor.

4. Nandalal Temple

The Nandalal museum and temple is the next great site for architecture buffs. There are 20 minor temples in this temple complex. King Jagat Malla constructed the earliest of these, the Mrinmayee temple, in 997. The temples in this compound exemplify Bengali architecture, with the majority of them constructed between 1622 and 1758 CE. Madanmohan, a square flat-roofed edifice with sculpted cornices and a pinnacle, is another important temple. Scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Puranas are shown in the Madanmohan temple's impressive carvings.

5. Lalji Temple

Braja Kishori Devi, Maharaja Jagat Ram's wife, constructed the Lalji temple in 1739. A bright yellow Garuda with icy green wings stands in front of the major Radha and Krishna idols inside the temple grounds. The Lalji temple in West Bengal has tiny panels that surround the temple's base and portray scenes from the Puranas. Shri Radhika and Shri Krishna are the main deities of this temple. Natmandir, a dancing hall, is located directly in front of the temple. Among the group of terracotta temples in Kalna, Lalji Temple is one of the oldest. The temple is made of brickwork, with terracotta sculptures adorning the walls. The majority of it has faded over time, yet what is left never ceases to astonish the viewer. The temple's roof has 25 peaks, which is a strange feature. Panchabinsati-Ratna Mandir is the name given to these types of temples. From afar, it appears to be beautiful.

 

Bengal temple terracotta art, which evolved from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century as a development of the region's earlier sultanate architecture, is a self-contained art tradition different from both preceding and subsequent styles.

The carvings on the temples of West Bengal are also highly distinctive. This could be because the artisans who worked on the temple complex were illiterate and had no access to the Sanskrit epics and stories related to it. Their sole way into the repository was through the dramas and songs written by local Bengali poets, which these artists heard. 

Historians believe that the freedom that the builders of this temple had allowed them to weave in new episodes and interpretations based on local customs and traditions, giving the Mahabharata and Ramayana stories, as well as the design of these temples, additional dimensions.