Sridhar Temple, Sonamukhi, West Bengal

Sridhar Temple, Sonamukhi, West Bengal

Sridhar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Madani Galli close to Chowrasta in the centre of Sonamukhi Town in Bankura District in the Indian state of West Bengal. This temple is considered as one of the five Panchabimsati Ratna temples in West Bengal. The temple is situated on the southern banks of Sali River.

History

The temple was constructed in 1845 CE by a rich weaver named Kanai Rudra. The ownership of the temple is currently with the Ganguly family. Sonamukhi has been mentioned as the village of weavers and an important trading centre for cotton, silk and clothes in many manuscripts and historical documents during the British rule. Sonamukhi is named after the local deity Swarnamukhi Devi (Swarna means gold and Mukhi means face).

The Temple

The temple is facing towards west and stands over a raised platform. This temple follows the Panchabimsati Ratna style of architecture. The Panchabimsati Ratna temple has 25 pinnacles. It consists of three stories with three pinnacles each at the four corners of the first storey (12 pinnacles), two pinnacles each at the four corners of second storey (8 pinnacles), one pinnacle each at the four corners of the of the third storey (4 pinnacles) and a central pinnacle. The central pinnacle has collapsed completely.

The temple consists of sanctum with triple arched entrance porch. The sanctum enshrines a Shaligrama image of Lord Sridhar. The façade and the pillar of the temple are elaborately decorated with terracotta ornamentation. The terracotta ornamentation depicts scenes from Mahabharata & Ramayana, Krishna Leela, birth of Lord Brahma from the navel of Lord Vishnu, divine marriage of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati, Mahishasura Mardini, Puranas, sages, saints, musicians, dancers, social life, foreigners, floral motifs and geometrical patterns.

Religious Significance

This temple is considered as one of the five Panchabimsati Ratna temples in West Bengal. The temples are;

1.    Krishna Chandra Temple, Kalna

2.    Gopalji Temple, Kalna

3.    Lalji Temple, Kalna

4.    Sridhar Temple, Sonamukhi

5.    Ananda Bhairabi Temple, Sukharia

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 150 metres from Sonamukhi Bazar Bus Stand, 2 Kms from Sonamukhi Railway Station, 31 Kms from Bishnupur, 41 Kms from Durgapur, 42 Kms from Bankura, 55 Kms from Bardhaman and 58 Kms from Durgapur Airport. Sonamukhi is situated on Bankura to Bardhaman route.

Location