WHEN WE SHOULD CALL A TEMPLE,

“A TEMPLE OF BENGAL”
Its all about a story of a temple growing in
the land of Bengal spreading its branches
The House of
and leaves from the stem, blooming fruits
and flowers; yet a single entity. God

The basic construction technique used in

The Worship of Gods in the
the Hindu temple was
form of image
▪ Trabeated System
▪ Corbelling System A master shelter under a
But there was no availability of stone in tree or on the banks of river
Bengal. Thus temples made of wood, that makes a sacred spot
timber & bamboo did not exit in trabeated
system.
David McCutchion identified
3 periods of Temple development Then a reed-hut , and after
wards a cella of wood & brick
❑ Early Hindu (upto the end of 12th C.)
❑ Sultanate ( 14th to early 16th C.)
❑ Hindu revival ( 16th to 19th C.)

WHAT EXISTED? In Gupta period it appears

as sanctum of stone, called
The Corbelling System the GARBHA-GRIHA

GARBHA
Entirely made by brick GRIHA

Early Hindu (upto the end of 12th C.)

MANDAPA
Rekha deul Pirha deul

Plan

Kongreshawr Shiva
Kodla Math, Bagerhat
Temple, Garhbeta
Sultanate ( 14th to early 16th C.)
Hut style ▪ New construction technique
Bangla type
▪ Do-chala/ Ek-Bangla

▪ Jor-bangla

▪ Imitation of Do-chala roof during

Mughal period
Gangeshwar Shiva temple, Murshidabad

Chala type
▪ Char chala

Raghunathjee Temple at
Ghurisha, West Bengal, India.
▪ Aat chala

Fath Khan's Tomb

Chanchara Aat-Chala Siva Temple
Hindu revival ( 16th to 19th C.)
Pinnacled style
Ek-ratna ("one tower")
▪ Influenced by Islamic minar
and kiosks
▪ Introduction of curved cornice
by Jalaluddin Muhammad
Shah
▪ Rekha deul with
circumbulation verandah

Kalachand Temple,
at Bishnupur, Bankura

Pancharatna ("five towers")

▪ Buddhist practice of putting tower

of stupa at corner
Navaratna (“seven towers") ▪ Ancient practice of miniature
shikhara (ratha)

Kantaji Temple Dinajpur

European influence
Flat roofed style
▪ Introduction of modern
building techniques
▪ Triple-arched entrances,
octagonal or clustered-
pilastered pillars
▪ Porch , pilasters, verities of
European origin arches
▪ Also used chala and ratna
designs with plastered
terracotta decoration
Durga dalan

Last but not least, THE TIMELESS FEATURE

“TERRACOTA”

▪ Sense of art
and beauty
▪ Story in terms
of imagery
▪ Skilled masons
▪ Skilled
artisans