Madan Gopal Temple

Madan Gopal Temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictBankura
DeityMadan Gopal
Location
LocationBishnupur
StateWest Bengal
CountryIndia
Geographic coordinates23°4′35.41″N 87°18′42.75″E / 23.0765028°N 87.3118750°E / 23.0765028; 87.3118750
Architecture
TypeBengal temple architecture
StylePancha-ratna style
FounderChuramoni(Siromoni/Siramani Devi), wife of Bir Singha
Date established1665; 360 years ago (1665)
Specifications
Length11.3 m (37 ft)
Width11.3 m (37 ft)
Height (max)13.7 m (45 ft)
Official name: Madan Gopal Temple
TypeCultural
Reference no.IN-WB-14
[1]

Madan Gopal Temple also known as Pancha-ratna temple,[2] is a Krishna temple in Bishnupur in the Indian state of West Bengal. In this temple, the Hindu God Krishna is worshiped.

History and architecture

According to the inscriptional plaque found in the temple, the temple was founded in 1665 by Churamoni (Siromoni/Siramani Devi), wife of Bir Singha II King of Mallabhum. The Temple is built in the Pancha-ratna temple architecture, which belongs to the ratna style developed in medieval Bengal.[3][1]

The structure's layout is square-shaped, with each side being 11.3 meters wide and 13.7 meters tall. The structure has five sikharas superimposed upon a curved roof and the only Pancha-ratna temple built in laterite in Bishnupur. The tower placed at the centre is octagonal in shape, while the four towers at four corners are square in shape with stepped character of pida type. This temple is rather scantily decorated. Only some lotus ornamentations are found above the arches of the porch. Very sturdily built, this temple has a character of its own, quite different from the other big temples of Bishnupur.[1][4]

Currently, it is preserved as one of the archaeological monuments by the Archaeological Survey of India.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c Biswas 1992, pp. 25.
  2. ^ "ASI, Kolkata Circle". www.asikolkata.in.
  3. ^ "Bankura Gazetteer CHAPTER XIV" (PDF). bankura.gov.in. Government of West Bengal. p. 185. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 August 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  4. ^ Dasgupta, Samira; Biswas, Rabiranjan; Mallik, Gautam Kumar (2009). Heritage Tourism: An Anthropological Journey to Bishnupur. Mittal Publications. pp. 51, 52. ISBN 978-81-8324-294-3.
  5. ^ "ASI, Kolkata Circle". www.asikolkata.in.

Sources

  • Biswas, S. S. (1992). Bishnupur (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ed.). Director General, Archaeological Survey of India.