Radha Shyam Temple

Coordinates: 23°4′20.85661″N 87°19′35.04274″E / 23.0724601694°N 87.3264007611°E / 23.0724601694; 87.3264007611
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Radha Shyam Temple
রাধাশ্যাম মন্দির
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictBankura
DeityRadha Shyam (Divine couple in Hinduism)
Location
LocationBishnupur
StateWest Bengal
CountryIndia
Geographic coordinates23°4′20.85661″N 87°19′35.04274″E / 23.0724601694°N 87.3264007611°E / 23.0724601694; 87.3264007611
Architecture
TypeBengal temple architecture
Styleeka-ratna style
FounderChaitanya Singh
Date established1758; 266 years ago (1758)
Specifications
Direction of façadeSouth
Length12.5 metres (41 ft)
Width12.5 metres (41 ft)
Height (max)10.7 metres (35 ft)
[1]

Radha Shyam Temple[1] or Rādhāśyāma mandir is a Krishna temple in Bishnupur town of Medinipur division in Indian state of West Bengal. In this temple, the Hindu god Krishna is worshiped in the form of Shyam; along with Shyam, the murti of Radha is also worshipped.[2] According to the foundation plaque found in the temple, the temple was founded in 1758 by King Chaitanya Singh of Mallabhum.[3] The temple is a unique example of eka-ratna temple architecture, which belongs to the ratna style developed in medieval Bengal.

The roof of this temple is square and curved, with curved edges and a domed shikhar (tower) in the middle.[2] The temple is known for its ornamentation, which adorns the surrounding walls of this temple. The ornamentations are mainly placed on terracotta plaques set into the walls.[1] The walls of the temple are decorated with scenes from the Ramayana, Anantasayin Vishnu and widely recurring figures of Radha-Krishna.[4]

Currently the temple is preserved as one of the archeological monuments by the Archaeological Survey of India.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Biswas 1992, pp. 20–21.
  2. ^ a b Biswas 1992, p. 20.
  3. ^ Chakraborty, Shantanu (18 January 2018). "Mallabhūma biṣṇupura" মল্লভূম বিষ্ণুপুর [Mallabhum Bishnupur]. www.anandabazar.com (in Bengali). ABP. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  4. ^ Biswas 1992, p. 21.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Biswas, S. S. (1992). "The Temples". Bishnupur (2nd ed.). New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  • Ghosh, Pika (2005). Temple to Love: Architecture and Devotion in Seventeenth-Century Bengal. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press.
  • Bandyopadhyay, Amiya Kumar (1971). Bām̐kuṛā jēlāra purākīrti বাঁকুড়া জেলার পুরাকীর্তি [Antiquities of Bankura District]. Kolkata: Public Works Department, West Bengal.