Shantinatha Shiva Temple
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.
Geography
Location
Shantinatha Shiva temple is located at 22°44′18″N 87°31′08″E / 22.7382°N 87.5189°E / 22.7382; 87.5189.
The temple
David J. McCutchion says that the lower structure of the pinnacled or ratna design is a rectangular box with a curved cornice. The roof follows the curvature of the cornice, and “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)”. By increasing the towers or pinnacles to nine (nava-ratna), thirteen, seventeen and twentyone up to a maximum of twentyfive. The ratna style came up in the 15th-16th century. The earliest nava-ratna temples in Midnapore were probably in the Sabang area in the early 18th century. McCutchion classifies the Shantinatha Shiva temple as a West Bengal nava-ratna with ridged turrets. He mentions that at Chandrakona (both at Dakhinbazar and Mitrasenpur), the four lowest turrets are octagonal with curved ridging and the upper five pancha-ratna with straight ridging. Built in 1828, it has rich terracotta and measures 19’ 6” square.[1]
The Shantinatha Shiva temple, with nine pinnacles, has exquisite terracotta which showcases the Ramayana battles, several scenes from Krishna lila, Bhisma on a bed of arrows, Dasavtar of Vishnu, several musicians etc. Local authorities have renovated the temple using many colours. However, the details of the terracotta relief are still there.[2]
The Shantinatha Shiva temple is a state protected monument.[3]
See also - Other temples at Chandrakona: Chandrakona Jorbangla Temple, Malleswara Shiva Temple, Parvatinatha Temple
Shantinatha Shiva temple picture gallery
References
- ^ McCutchion, David J., Late Mediaeval Temples of Bengal, first published 1972, reprinted 2017, pages 8-10, 52. The Asiatic Society, Kolkata, ISBN 978-93-81574-65-2
- ^ Gupta, Amitabha. "The Crumbling Temples of Chandrakona". Live History India, 4 May 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ^ List of State Protected Monuments as reported by the Archaeological Survey of India Archived 2013-05-23 at the Wayback Machine.
External links
- v
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- e
- Bargi
- Chhoto Angaria massacre
- Chandrakona Jorbangla Temple
- Dharmathakur
- Dudhkundi Airfield
- Gajan
- Gongoni Danga
- Hijli Detention Camp
- IIT Kharagpur
- Kalaikunda Air Force Station
- Kurumbera Fort
- Malleswara Shiva Temple
- Nehru Museum of Science and Technology
- Operation Lalgarh
- Partition of Midnapore
- Parvatinatha Temple
- Shantinatha Shiva Temple
- Vidyasagar University
blocks
Medinipur Sadar subdivision |
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Ghatal subdivision | |
Kharagpur subdivision |
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- Ghatal
- Medinipur
- Panskura - now defunct
Vidhan Sabha constituencies
- Cities, towns and locations in Paschim Medinipur district
- People from Pascim Medinipur district
- Villages in Paschim Medinipur district