Parvatinatha Temple

Last updated
Parvatinatha Temple
Religion
Affiliation Hinduism
Location
Location Chandrakona
Paschim Medinipur district
StateWest Bengal
CountryIndia
West Bengal location map.svg
Om symbol.svg
Shown within West Bengal
India location map.svg
Om symbol.svg
Parvatinatha Temple (India)
Geographic coordinates 22°44′19″N87°30′35″E / 22.7387°N 87.5098°E / 22.7387; 87.5098
Architecture
Type Saptadasaratna
Completed18th century

The Parvatinatha Temple (also spelled as Parbatinath) is a saptadasa-ratna (seventeen-pinnacled) temple, built in the 19th century at Chandrakona in Ghatal subdivision of Paschim Medinipur district in West Bengal, India.

Contents

History

According to Binoy Ghosh, it is very difficult to penetrate the hazy clouds of imagination and mythology that surround the king named Chandraketu of Chandrakona. It is popular belief in Chandrakona that Bir Bhan of the Bhan dynasty (Chouhan dynasty) overthrew the last king of the Chandraketu dynasty and became the king of Chandrakona. An English translation of the Persian book Baharistan-i-Ghaibi has recently been published. (Binoy Ghosh visited Chandrakona in 1952.) [1]

Binoy Ghosh writes that in Baharistan-i-Ghaibi it is mentioned that Bir Bhan succeeded Chandra Bhan. This change must have taken place around mid-17th century. It is possible that Chandra Bhan became Chandra Ketu as information spread amongst the people. The stone tablet in the Lalji temple mentions that the nava-ratna temple was established by the wife of Harinarayan, daughter-in-law of Bir Bhan, Mitrasen's mother, daughter of Holray, and sister of the Malla king (of Bishnupur) Srinarayan. The construction work started in 1571 Sakabda (1649 AD) and was completed in 1577 Shakabda (1655 AD). [1]

It was the golden age of Chandrakona when the Bhan dynasty ruled in the 17th century. Chandrakona became famous for its ‘fiftytwo markets and fiftythree lanes’. The number of temples that are still there in Chandrakona is a matter of wonder. [1]

Geography

The Parvatinatha temple is located at 22°44′19″N87°30′35″E / 22.7387°N 87.5098°E / 22.7387; 87.5098 .

The temple

David J. McCutchion says that the roof of a ratna temple “is surmounted by one or more towers or pinnacles called ratna (jewel). The simplest form has a single central tower (eka-ratna), to which may be added four more at the corners (pancha-ratna)”. The number of towers or pinnacles can be increased up to a maximum of twentyfive. The ratna style came up in the 15th-16th century. McCutchion classifies the Parvatinatha temple as a standard saptadasa-ratna. Built in the 19th century, it has rich terracotta and stucco decoration and measures 21’ 6” square. [2]

Chandrakona town showcases a large 17-pinnacled Parvatinatha temple, built in 1871 and “reconstructed with no thought to its heritage value. In the process, several new plaques have been added.” [3]

See also - Other temples at Chandrakona: Chandrakona Jorbangla Temple, Shantinatha Shiva Temple, Malleswara Shiva Temple

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandrakona</span> Town in West Bengal, India

Chandrakona is a town and a municipality in the Ghatal subdivision of Paschim Medinipur district in the state of West Bengal, India. The city is located between Ghatal and Garhbeta. The king – Chandraketu was the founder of the kingdom of Chandrakona. In Ain-E-Akbari it was mentioned as ‘Mana’.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khirpai</span> City in West Bengal, India

Khirpai, also known as Kshirpai, is a city and a municipality in the Ghatal subdivision of the Paschim Medinipur district in the state of West Bengal, India. The city is situated between Ghatal and Chandrakona, near the banks of the rivers Shilabati and Kethai, and is one of the oldest municipalities in India. Khirpai is also famous for its Babarsa, a special type of sweetmeat, which is not available elsewhere.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramjibanpur</span> City in West Bengal, India

Ramjibanpur is a city and a municipality in the Ghatal subdivision of the Paschim Medinipur district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kharar, Ghatal</span> City in West Bengal, India

Kharar is a historical town of Ghatal and one of the oldest town in Asia. This city is located in the Ghatal Subdivision of the Indian state of West Bengal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bahulara Ancient Temple</span> Temple in India

Bahulara Ancient Temple is located in Bahulara village in the Onda II village panchayat, in the Onda CD block in the Bankura Sadar subdivision of the Bankura district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is 5 km (3.1 mi) from Ondagram railway station and 25 km (16 mi) from Bishnupur.

Daspur is a village, with a police station, in Daspur I CD Block in Ghatal subdivision of Paschim Medinipur district in the state of West Bengal, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Narajole</span> Village in West Bengal, India

Narajole is a village and gram panchayat in Daspur I CD Block in Ghatal subdivision of Paschim Medinipur district in the state of West Bengal, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gourangapur</span> Village in West Bengal, India

Gourangapur is a village in Kanksa CD block in Durgapur subdivision of Paschim Bardhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal. The place has links with Ichhai Ghosh, king of Gopbhum, and it is believed that his capital, Dhekur, was located nearby. The area was earlier a part of Senpahari pargana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supur, Birbhum</span> Village in West Bengal, India

Supur is a village under Raipur-Supur gram panchayat in Bolpur Sriniketan CD block in Bolpur subdivision of Birbhum district, West Bengal, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ichhai Ghosher Deul</span> Temple in Gourangapur, West Bengal

Ichhai Ghosher Deul is located near Gourangapur in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a late mediaeval brick-built temple of the sikhara type without any image. Tradition says that Ichai Ghosh constructed the temple in honour of the Goddess Bhagabati. However, this type of brick temple seen at Neiba Khera, Uttar Pradesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandrakona Jorbangla Temple</span> Hindu temple in India

Chandrakona Jorbangla Temple is a 17th-century stone built temple at Dakshinbazar, Chandrakona in Ghatal subdivision of Paschim Medinipur district in West Bengal, India.

Shantinatha Shiva Temple is a nava-ratna temple, built in 1828 at Mitrasenpur, Chandrakona in Ghatal subdivision of Paschim Medinipur district in West Bengal, India.

Malleswara Shiva Temple is a pancha-ratna temple, built in the 18th century at Chandrakona in Ghatal subdivision of Paschim Medinipur district in West Bengal, India.

Karnagarh is a village and a gram panchayat in the Salboni CD block in the Medinipur Sadar subdivision of the Paschim Medinipur district in the state of West Bengal, India.

Dihi Baliharpur is a village in the Daspur I CD block in the Ghatal subdivision of the Paschim Medinipur district in the state of West Bengal, India.

Lachhipur is a village in the Ghatal CD block in the Ghatal subdivision of the Paschim Medinipur district in the state of West Bengal, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bengal temple architecture</span>

Bengal temple architecture is about temple styles developed and used in Bengal, particularly the chala, ratna and dalan temples.

Jayantipur is a village in the Chandrakona II CD block in the Ghatal subdivision of the Paschim Medinipur district in the state of West Bengal, India.

Bali Dewanganj is a village and a gram panchayat in the Goghat I CD block in the Arambagh subdivision of Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

<i>Ratna Style</i> Style of a Hindu temple

Ratna Style is a style of Bengal temple architecture, that originated in Bengal from the 15th to 16th centuries, under the Mallabhum kingdom. Originating as a regional style in Hindu temple architecture. It is an extended style of the Chala temple. The special feature of Ratna-style temples is the curved cornice of the chala.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ghosh, Binoy, Paschim Banger Sanskriti, (in Bengali), part II, 1976 edition, pages 95-97, Prakash Bhaban, Kolkata.
  2. McCutchion, David J., Late Mediaeval Temples of Bengal, first published 1972, reprinted 2017, pages 8-10, 55. The Asiatic Society, Kolkata, ISBN   978-93-81574-65-2
  3. Gupta, Amitabha. "The Crumbling Temples of Chandrakona". Live History India, 4 May 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.