Navaratna (architecture)

For other uses, see Navaratna (disambiguation).

A southern view of Kantajew Temple in Dinajpur, Bangladesh, as it was in 1871, with seven of the nine spires visible, of the navaratna architecture that were subsequently destroyed in an earthquake

The navaratna style of temple architecture (Sanskrit: नवरत्न, meaning "nine gems") incorporates two main levels, each with four spired corner pavilions, and a central pavilion above, for a total of nine spires. The style arose in Bengal during the eighteenth century as an elaboration of the pancharatna style that had five pavilions (four at the corners and one above).

Examples

This type of temples are very common. Some notable temples are

• Kantajew Temple, Dinajpur
• Nabaratna Temple, Sirajganj
• Annapurna Temple, Titagarh
• Dhamrely Temple, Khulna
• Dakshineshwar Temple, Hawra, West Bengal

See also

• Ek-ratna
• Pancharatna (architecture)