Madangopal Jiu Temple, Mellock, Samta, West Bengal

Madangopal Jiu Temple, Mellock, Samta, West Bengal

Madangopal Jiu Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, located in the village of Mellock, near Samta, in the Indian state of West Bengal. The temple is also locally known as Gopaler Mondir, the temple of Gopala. Madan Mohan Jiu temple is also one of the largest Achala (roof with 8 slopes) temple in Bengal.

History

It was built in 1651AD by a wrestler known as Mukundaprasad Roy Choudhury, who was a family member of the Roy Zamindars, who then ruled the village of Samta. Then, the Rup Narayan River used to flow alongside the temple. However, now the river has changed its course and moved farther away. Mukundaprasad was reputed to be very strong and muscular. In those days, the road to the temple was connected to the barrage of the village by a small wooden bridge.

Mukundaprasad would carry two heavy stone dumbbells in his arms and would carry it to the temple crossing the wooden bridge. Neither did he use to get tired nor did the wooden bridge ever break. One of the stones is kept in the vicinity of the temple. The temple is in ruins and reconstruction work was started in early 2010s. The idols of the deity are made of eight metals (ashtadhatu). But since the reconstruction started, the deities have been shifted to a nearby house.

The Temple

The temple is a terracotta ornamented temple and its roof has eight slopes. The main entrance with three arches faces the south. One additional entrance is on the east side. The east entrance leads to a small room, adjacent to the garbhagriha, or the main room. The temple is approximately 40 feet high. The temple has number of sculptures and designs on it. The deity worshipped in the temple is Radha and Madangopal. The idol of Radha is much shorter than the idol of Madangopal. However, now as the temple is in ruins the idols have been kept in a nearby house.

Temple Opening Time

The Temple remains open from 06.00 am in the morning to 08.00 pm in the night.

Festivals

Local Holi and Dol Yatra in Samta is held every year a day after Dol Purnima (full moon day) and on the day of Holi the idols are carried to the nearby house of the Mukherjees by an ancient wooden palanquin. Special rituals are performed and at evening it is brought back to the temple following traditions, in which burning bonfires are placed alongside the whole road, starting from the house of the Mukherjees till the temple. The people must make their way through the road and carry the palanquin with idols to the temple. On the day of Janmashtami (the birthday of Lord Krishna) also special pujas are held.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 2.5 Kms from Deulti Railway Station, 9 Kms from Kolaghat, 13 Kms from Bagnan, 53 Kms from Howrah, 68 Kms from Kolkata, 77 Kms from Kharagpur and 76 Kms from Kolkata Airport. The Temple is situated off Kolkata Mumbai National Highway between Kolkata and Kharagpur near Mellock Village.

Location