Jatar-Deul

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Jatar-Deul

The tower temple ( rekha-deul ) known as Jatar-Deul ( Bengali জটার দেউল jaṭār deul ) is located in the stone-less alluvial plain and bush landscape of the western Sundarbans in the Indian state of West Bengal , which is criss-crossed by numerous rivers . It belongs to a small subgroup of Bengali temples that can be traced back to architectural suggestions from Odisha .

location

The Jatar-Deul stands isolated on a slight hill in the vicinity of the village Kanakan Dighi about 5 km east of the small town Raidighi in the district Dakshin 24 Pargana in West Bengal; It is unclear whether there used to be a village near the temple or whether it was a regional pilgrimage center.

history

Nothing is known about the client (s) and thus also about the time the temple was built. Some researchers - because of a copper plate found nearby with an inscription from the 10th century, which however does not refer to the temple - assume a simultaneous origin; others date it much later and place the construction time in the 17th or 18th century.

Consecration

Since there is neither a cult image nor any other sculptural or inscribed references, the consecration of the temple is also unclear - some consider it originally a Buddhist building; Others see it as a building in honor of the Hindu god Shiva ( Mahadev ), whose colorful pictures and other religious odds and ends decorate the interior of the cella ( garbhagriha ) today .

architecture

The m only from a tower about 30 high ( rekha-deul ) with inner about 3.10 × 3.10 m measuring increases lying, but windowless Cella existing brick temple rises on a square of about 9.30 × 9.30 m. The steep proportions usual for a Rekha-Deul are remarkable, which are somewhat softened by several cornices above the high, ogival portal and vertical gradations in the upper part. The building only develops a dome-shaped curvature over the last few meters.

Photos of other Rekha Deul temples in West Bengal

Web links

Coordinates: 21 ° 59 ′ 33 ″  N , 88 ° 29 ′ 15 ″  E