| Bir Singha Dev | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 52nd king of the Mallabhum | |
| Reign | 1656–1682 |
| Predecessor | Raghunath Singha Dev |
| Successor | Durjan Singha Dev |
| Wives |
|
| Issue |
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| Father | Raghunath Singha Dev |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Bir Singha Dev (also known as Beera Singha, and Bir Singha I) [2] was the fifty-second king of the Mallabhum. He ruled from 1656 to 1682 CE. [1] [3] [4]
Bir Singha Dev was the son of Raghunath Singha Dev. During his regime his kingdom was extended. It was the period when Aurangjeb was the Samrat. History says that Auranjeb was a very cruel type of king. He seized all the tax-free land or bepanchaki jamin from them. Bir Singha Dev had two queens. The elder one Churamoni or Siromoni Devi was a very pious woman. She had three sons named Durjan, Sur, and Krishna Singha 0ev. The younger queens name was Swamamoyee Devi. She was a very cruel woman and had one son. As she thought that her son would not be able to sit on the throne of the Malla king, she insisted Bir Singha to kill all the sons of his first wife and the king also had done the cruel murder of his sons of first wife as per the instruction of the second wife. Among those three sons by his first wife Durjan Singha Dev somehow escaped and could save his life. Later the second wife's only son Baldev died. Then Bir Singha Dev could realize what wrong he had done. He became very disturbed, disappointed and repented. He was in search of his successor. At that time Durjan Singha Dev came to him. The king did not know that he was alive. Seeing him Bir Singha Dev got some peace in his mind and Durjan Singha Dev became the king after Bir Singha Dev. [5]
He also Had the seven big lakes or tanks, called Lalbandh, Krishnabandh, Gantatbandh, Jamunabandh, Kalindibandh, Shyambandh, and pokabandh excavated, and erected. [6]
Though Bir Singha Dev was cruel, but he had an aesthetic sense and during his period several temples were established which are full with artistic work. As per the wishes of the queen Siromoni Devi, two buildings were also constructed and dedicated to Radha Krishna. Those are Madan Mohan and Madan Gopal temple In Bishnupur, he established both small and large stone gates, Radha lal Jiu temple. [5]
After crossing the big stone gate if one stands facing south, one can see the palace and on the north or left side there are several temples. Among those, a laterite temple is found. Bir Singha Dev established it in 1658. It is a Ekratna temple. [7] There are figures of birds and animals with fresco painting. The temple is placed upon a large plinth. It is a square shaped temple with slanting roof slightly sloping in all sides. It has a nahabat khana (room or platform where the sanai concert is played), nat mandir (portico of a temple) that reminds the visitors, tourists and travelers about the recreational life of the Malla dynasty. In the temple) deity is there and everyday puja is performed officiated by a Brahman. [8]
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This magnificent temple was built by Siromani Chudamoni Devi, the queen of Raja Bir Singha Dev and mother of Durjan Singha Dev in 1665. This latente ekratna temple is dedicated to Murali Mohan Jiu. A few decorations of floral designs is noticed. Stuccowork is found in this temple. [8]
Bishnupur is a city and a municipality in Bankura district, West Bengal, India. It has terracotta temples built by the Malla rulers, historic Radha Krishna temples built during 1600–1800 CE and the Baluchari sarees. In 1997 the temples of Bishnupur were placed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site's Tentative list.
History of Bankura district refers to the history of the present Bankura district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Historically, the region was under the realm of Rarh in ancient Bengal.
Mallabhum was the kingdom ruled by the Malla kings of Bishnupur, primarily in the present Bankura district in Indian state of West Bengal.
Hambir Malla Dev was the forty-ninth king of Mallabhum. He ruled from 1565 to 1620 AD.
Adi Malla, also known as Bagdi Raja, was the founder of the Mallabhum sometime in the 7th century CE.
Jay Malla, also known as Joy Malla & Jai Malla, was the son of Adi Malla, the founder of the Mallabhum.
Kalipada Singha Thakur was the last King of Malla dynasty of Bishnupur. He became King of Mallabhum in the year 1930 C.E.
Dhari Malla was the forty-eight king of the Mallabhum. He ruled from 1554 to 1565 CE.
Dhari Hambir Malla Dev, also known as Dhari Hambeera was the fiftieth king of the Mallabhum. He ruled from 1620 to 1626 CE.
Raghunath Malla Dev, also known as Raghunath Singha Dev, was the fifty-first king of the Mallabhum. He ruled from 1626 to 1656 CE.
Raghunath Singha Dev II was the fifty-fourth king of the Mallabhum. He ruled from 1702 to 1712.
Durjan Singha Dev was the fifty-third king of the Mallabhum. He ruled from 1682 to 1702.
Nilmoni Singha Dev was the sixtieth king of the Mallabhum. He ruled from 1889 to 1903.
Gopal Singha Dev II was the fifty-eighth king of the Mallabhum. He ruled from 1809 to 1876 CE.
Ramkrishna Singha Dev was the fifty-ninth king of the Mallabhum. He ruled from 1876 to 1885 CE.
Madan Malla was the forty-third king of the Mallabhum, ruling from 1407 to 1420 CE.
Chandra Malla was the forty-sixth king of the Mallabhum. He ruled from 1460 to 1501 CE.
Madan Mohan Temple or Madanamōhana mandir is a Krishna temple in Bishnupur town of Medinipur division. In the past, the Hindu deity Krishna was worshiped in the form of Madanamohan in this temple, but currently no worship is conducted. According to the foundation plaque found in the temple, the temple was founded in 1694 AD by King Durjan Singha Dev of Mallabhum. The temple is a unique example of ekaratna temple architecture, which belongs to the Ratna style developed in medieval Bengal.
Mrinmoyee Temple is an ancient temple in the town of Bishnupur in Bankura district of the Indian state of West Bengal. It was founded in the 10th century by the Malla king Jagat Malla.
Madan Gopal Temple also known as Pancha-ratna temple, is a Krishna temple in Bishnupur in Indian state of West Bengal. In this temple, the Hindu God Krishna is worshiped.