Koratha Group of Temples, Uttar Pradesh

Koratha Group of Temples, Uttar Pradesh

Koratha Group of Temples are group of two ancient brick built Hindu temples located in Koratha Village in the Ghatampur Tehsil in the Kanpur Nagar District in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple is protected as monuments of national importance by the central Archaeological Survey of India.

History

The temple is believed to be built in 5^th century CE by the Guptas.

The Temple

The temple complex is divided into two parts by a low wall. One part has the plinth of probably one temple in the centre and plinths on three corners. The other part of the complex has the remains of a temple seated on a high plinth. The temple complex is in complete ruins. The repetitive motifs adorn the external facades, style and the patterns are typical of the Gupta style of architecture. The decorative mouldings on the lower part of the temple are intricately carved. The terracotta friezes and molded bricks seen here are similar to those seen in Deogarh and Bhitargaon. There might have been a shikara over the flat roof of the sanctum.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 5 Kms from Sarh, 5 Kms from Sarh Bus Stop, 7 Kms from Bhitargaon, 15 Kms from Patara Railway Station, 19 Kms from Ramaipur, 20 Kms from Ghatampur Railway Station, 21 Kms from Ghatampur, 23 Kms from Jahanabad, 32 Kms from Kanpur and 107 Kms from Lucknow Airport. The temple is situated at about 5 Kms to the south west of Sarh Bus Stop on Ramaipur to Jahanabad route.

Location

Mahadev Temple, Gairaha, Uttar Pradesh

Mahadev Temple, Gairaha, Uttar Pradesh

Mahadev Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located on top of a hillock in Gairaha Village in Mauranipur Tehsil in Jhansi District in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple is protected as monuments of national importance by the central Archaeological Survey of India.

History

The temple was built during the reign of King Kirtivarman (1060 – 1100 CE) of Chandela dynasty.

The Temple

This temple is situated on top of small hillock. This temple is facing towards east and stands over a low raised platform. The temple consists of sanctum, antrala, sabha mandapa with lateral transepts and entrance porch. The sabha mandapa and the entrance porch are crowned with pyramidal style superstructure. The lintel of the sanctum doorway has image of Lord Shiva at the centre.

He is flanked by Brahma on the right side and Vishnu on the left side. The sanctum enshrines the presiding deity, Gairaha Mahadev in the form of Shiva Linga. The lower part of the shikhara is perpendicular while the upper part has a slight curve. There are ten images depicting the legends of Lord Shiva on the perpendicular sides. The sanctum is crowned with nagara style shikara.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 7 Kms from Bangra, 23 Kms from Mauranipur Railway Station, 25 Kms from Mauranipur, 36 Kms from Barua Sagar, 54 Kms from Jhansi, 133 Kms from Khajuraho Airport and 157 Kms from Gwalior. The temple is situated at about 7 Kms to the north of Bangra on Mauranipur to Jhansi route.

Location

Gokul Chand Temple, Gokulnagar – The Temple

Gokul Chand Temple, Gokulnagar – The Temple

The temple follows pancha ratna style of architecture. The temple is facing towards east and stands over a raised platform. The temple covers an area of about 23,500 sq. ft. surrounded by a high compound wall. Some portions of the wall has broken down. The temple is about 65 feet tall. The temple can be accessed through an arched gateway. The temple has a square flat roof with curved cornices with a pinnacle at the centre flanked by four smaller pinnacles at the corner of the roof.

The central pinnacle is a huge octagonal structure. The corner pinnacles are small quadrangular structure. All the pinnacles has ridged roof. The temple consists of sanctum and verandahs on three sides, each with a triple arched entrance and circumambulatory path goes round the temple. The Idol of Lord Krishna in the sanctum has long been removed from the temple for safety purposes and is currently housed in Bishnupur.

The idol is brought back for five days every year during Holi and Ras. Apart from these five days, a photograph kept at the sanctum is being worshiped regularly. There is a stone staircase leading to the roof of the temple. There is a Natamandir situated on the southern end of the temple. The roof of the natamandir had been collapsed long time ago but the pillars and the arched gateways are still intact. It has a triple arched entrance facing the temple and a single arched entrance on the other two sides.

There are places designated for kirtan and Gita recitals in the natamandir. There is a small stone Tulsimancha between the natamandir and the main shrine. The external walls of the temple are decorated with reliefs depicting various avatars of Lord Vishnu, raslila motifs and other mythological incidents. There are several sculptures on the eastern and southern wall of the temple in square panels.

The sculptures are heavily eroded due to the natural elements. The eastern wall is decorated with raslila motifs and mythological incidents are sculpted on the southern wall. The Vamana avatar of Lord Vishnu can be seen on top of the western wall. The foundation plaque seen on the southern wall of the temple is illegible at present. There are several stone slabs scattered inside the temple premises.

Gokul Chand Temple, Gokulnagar, West Bengal

Gokul Chand Temple, Gokulnagar, West Bengal

Gokul Chand Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Gokulnagar village in the Joypur CD block in the Bishnupur subdivision of the Bankura district in the state of West Bengal, India. This temple is considered as the largest laterite Pancharatna Temple of Bankura District. 

History

The temple was constructed by King Raghunath Singh I of Bishnupur Kingdom in 1643 CE. However, there is a popular belief that the temple was constructed by King Chandra Malla in 1460 CE. The foundation plaque seen on the southern wall of the temple is illegible at present. Rakhaldas Bandopadhyay of Mohanjodaro fame visited this temple in 1923. He met the then district magistrate of Bankura, briefed him about the temple and requested him to preserve the temple.

Further, he wrote about the temple in a Bengali magazine called Prabashi. The temple was plundered for the stones and bricks for road and house construction. The plunder continued till the Archeological Survey of India took over its maintenance in 1996. The temple complex is protected as monuments of national importance by the central Archaeological Survey of India.

The Temple

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2024/07/gokul-chand-temple-gokulnagar-temple.html

Festivals

Ras and Dol are the major festivals when the idol of Krishna is brought back from Bishnupur.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 1 Km from Gokulnagar Railway Station, 3 Kms from Salda, 4 Kms from Joypur, 4 Kms from Joypur Bus Stop, 18 Kms from Kotulpur, 19 Kms from Bishnupur, 52 Kms from Bankura, 122 Kms from Kolkata and 125 Kms from Kolkata Airport. The temple is situated at about 3 Kms from Salda on the Bishnupur to Kotulpur route.

Location

Vishnu Temple, Garui, West Bengal

Vishnu Temple, Garui, West Bengal

Vishnu Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Garui Village, an outskirt of Asansol City in Paschim Bardhaman District in the Indian state of West Bengal. The temple is one of the state protected monuments in West Bengal declared by Archaeological Survey of India.

History

The temple is believed to be built in 14^th century CE. The temple was extensively renovated by ASI in 1924.

The Temple

The temple is facing towards east and stands over a raised platform. The temple is built entirely of stone, but the constructions style is heavily influenced by the terracotta temples of Bishnupur. The temple consists of sanctum and a verandah with triple corbel arched entrance. The sanctum enshrines a Salagrama image of Lord Vishnu. However, the sanctum enshrined an image of Lokeshwara Vishnu in the past. The roof is of hut shaped. There are stone carvings on the entrance arches and interior of the temple.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 2 Kms from Barachak Junction Railway Station, 6 Kms from Asansol, 7 Kms from Asansol Bus Stand, 7 Kms from Asansol Junction Railway Station, 9 Kms from Kalipahari Bus Stand, 11 Kms from Neamatpur, 14 Kms from Dendua and 41 Kms from Durgapur Airport. The temple is situated on Kalipahari Bus Stand to Dendua route.

Location

Gaja Lakshmi Temple, Amragari, West Bengal

Gaja Lakshmi Temple, Amragari, West Bengal

Gaja Lakshmi Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to goddess Lakshmi located in Amragari village in the Amta II Block in Howrah District in the state of West Bengal, India. The temple is one of the state protected monuments in West Bengal declared by Archaeological Survey of India.

History

The temple was built in 1729 CE by Roy family of Howrah. The temple is currently in dilapidated state.

The Temple

The temple follows atchala style of architecture. The atchala style is similar to the four-sided char chala temple style, but with a small replica of the base temple on top. The temple is in dilapidated state. The main idol, Gaja Lakshmi housed in the sanctum of this temple is shifted to an adjacent building and worshipped. It is interesting to note that the Gajalakshmi worship is very rare in Bengal region.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 750 metres from Amragari Kather Kali Mandir Bus Stop, 12 Kms from Amta Railway Station, 13 Kms from Amta, 13 Kms from Rajhati, 41 Kms from Howrah, 56 Kms from Kolkata and 64 Kms from Kolkata Airport. The temple is situated on Amta to Rajhati route. This temple can be reached by bus from Howrah Bus Stand.

Location

Dharmaraj Temple, Kabilaspur, West Bengal

Dharmaraj Temple, Kabilaspur, West Bengal

Dharmaraj Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Kabilaspur Village under Bhabanipur gram panchayat in the Rajnagar block of Birbhum District in the state of West Bengal, India. The temple is one of the state protected monuments in West Bengal declared by Archaeological Survey of India.

History

The temple was constructed in 1643 CE by Karan Rupdas during the rule of Bahadur Khan, the ruler of Rajnagar. It has two inscriptions in Bengali fixed above its entrance on east. The inscriptions records that a man named Karan Rupdas built this beautiful Hari temple in Karan Kayastha. Karan Rupdas / Dilipchand Sarkar was praised as one of the heroic generals of Bahadur Khan in the inscriptions. He was Kayastha of North Radhi in caste and was the Lord of Hetampur fort. He achieved fame by fighting valiantly on behalf of Rajnagar Raj against the English ruler. 

The Temple

This temple is facing towards east and stands over a rectangular platform. The temple follows rekha deula style of architecture. The sanctum is rectangular in plan, and it has no idol in it. It is a plain stone temple with sharp corners and a tapering sikhara. The shikara is about 15 metres tall. It has no separation between base and shikara. The exterior is devoid of any decoration. It has two inscriptions in Bengali fixed above its entrance on east.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 3 Kms from Bhabanipur, 5 Kms from Hirakuni More, 9 Kms from Rajnagar, 22 Kms from Suri, 23 Kms from Suri Bus Stand, 24 Kms from Suri Railway Station and 62 Kms from Durgapur Airport. The temple is situated at about 5 Kms to the north west of Hirakuni More on Suri to Rajnagar route.

Location

Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, Kolkata – The Temple Complex

Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, Kolkata – The Temple Complex

This temple is facing towards south and covers an area of about 25 acres. The temple was built in the navaratna (nine pinnacles) style of Bengal architecture. The navaratna style of temple architecture consists of two main levels, each with four pinnacles at the corner of the roof and the top level (second level) has a central pinnacle. The temple can be accessed through an arched gateway on all sides. The temple stands on a high platform with a flight of stairs.

It measures 46 feet (14 m) square and rises over 100 feet (30 m) high. The sanctum enshrines an image of goddess Kali, known as  Bhavatarini / Adi Shakti Kalika, standing on the chest of a supine Shiva, and the two idols are placed on a thousand-petaled lotus throne made of silver. The exterior walls of the temple is decorated with male & female figurines, animals, floral motifs and geometrical patterns. The huge spacious Natmandir situated on the northern side exactly opposite to the main shrine.

It is a rectangular structure with flat roof. It is an open hall supported by 16 pillars. It measures 50 feet in length and 75 feet width. This hall is used for religious discourses and bhajans. There are the row of twelve identical Shiva temples situated close to the main shrine. These temples are facing towards east and follows typical aatchala style of architecture. They are built on either side of the ghat on the Hooghly river. All these temples houses a Shiva Linga representing the Jyotirlingas.

The Radha Kanta temple is situated to the north east of the temple complex. The temple stands over a raised platform and can be reached via flight of steps. The temple consists of columned verandah and three shrines. It is a rectangular structure with flat roof. The main shrine houses an idol of Lord Krishna and his consort Radha. The left side shrine houses the damaged original idol of Krishna and photographs of Ramakrishna & his consort Sarada Devi.

The right side shrines houses an idol of Jagannath, Lord Shiva and photograph of Ramakrishna. There is a shrine dedicated to Rani Rashmoni can be seen in the temple premises. The Nahabat (the chamber), where Ramakrishna and his consort Sharada spent a considerable part of his life can be seen in the north western corner of the temple complex. There is a bathing ghat on the river for the benefit of devotees.

Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, Kolkata – History

Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, Kolkata – History

The temple was constructed during the 19th century CE by Rani Rashmoni (28 September 1793 – 19 February 1861). The temple is known for its association with Ramakrishna and Ma Sarada Devi, mystics of 19^th Century Bengal. Rani Rashmoni was a businesswoman, Zamindar and philanthropist . Rashmoni planned to go on a pilgrimage to holy city of Kashi. She arranged twenty four boats for this pilgrimage carrying her relatives, servants, and supplies. Rani Rashmoni had a vision of goddess Kali in a dream.

The night before the pilgrimage began, Goddess Kali appeared in the dreams of Rani Rashmoni, instructed her to install her idol on the banks of the Ganges river and directed Rani to build a temple for the idol. Further, Kali said that she would manifest herself in the idol and would accept the worship of Rani at the newly built temple. As directed in the dreams, Rani immediately searched for a suitable land and purchased a 30,000-acre plot in the village of Dakshineshwar.

The large temple complex was built between 1847 and 1855. The 20-acre (81,000 m2) plot was bought from an Englishman, Jake Hastie, and was then popularly known as Saheban Bagicha. It is said that the site was party a old Muslin burial ground shaped like a tortoise. The place is considered befitting for the worship of Shakti according to Tantra traditions. It took eight years and nine hundred thousand rupees to complete the construction.

The idol of Goddess Kali was installed on the Snana Yatra day on 31 May 1855 amid festivities at the temple formally known as Sri Jagadishwari Mahakali, with Ramkumar Chattopadhyay as the head priest. Soon, his younger brother Gadadhar (later known as Ramakrishna) moved in and so did his nephew Hriday to assist him. On 31 May 1855 more than 1 lakh (one hundred thousand) Brahmins were invited from different parts of the country to grace the auspicious occasion.

The next year, Ramkumar Chattopadhyay died, and the position was given to Ramakrishna along with his wife Sarada Devi, who stayed in the south side of the Nahabat (music room) in a small room on the ground floor, which is now a shrine dedicated to her. Ramakrishna was responsible for bringing much in the way of both fame and pilgrims to the temple. Rani Rashmoni lived for only five years and nine months after the inauguration of the temple.

She fell seriously ill in 1861. Realizing that her death was near, she decided to hand over the property she had purchased in Dinajpur (now in Bangladesh) as a legacy for the maintenance of the temple to the temple trust. She accomplished her task on 18 February 1861 and died on the next day. After her death, her sons-in-law took to celebrating Durga Puja in their respective premises.