Banda Deul, Purulia – The Temple

Banda Deul, Purulia – The Temple

The temple follows rekha deula style and is facing towards north. The temple was once enclosed by a stone wall, only small fractions of which survives to this day. The temple consisted of rekha deula (sanctum) and Mukha Mandapa. The Mukha Mandapa is largely collapsed, although eight pillars still stand supporting crossbeams. It is rectangular on plan. The Sanctum remains intact.

The Sanctum is triratha on plan. The sanctum stands on a square base (14 X 14 feet). The door frame has carvings of male figurines blowing horns by climbing up a wavy stem, a band of foliate scrolls and two bands of floral lozenges. There is no idol currently in the sanctum. The sanctum is with simplified base mouldings and plain squared pilasters on either side of a niche in each wall.

The central projection is decorated with interconnected chaityas and foliated scrolls and two vertical rows of separate projecting chaityas between this and the corners. The central projection on the south side has a large interweaving leafy stem with lattice-like designs. The lower portion of the eastern wall contains a stone elephant head, which probably served as a water outlet.

The water used during the rituals in the inner sanctum was drained out through pipes and was ejected through the elephant head shaped outlet. The amalaka on top of the shikara was also broken. The exterior is richly decorated with carvings of creepers, scroll work and stylized chaitya window. The area around the temple is covered with several Palash Trees.