Shyamrai Temple

Bishnupur, nestled in West Bengal's Bankura district, stands as a cultural gem, renowned for its 17th and 18th-century Terracotta temples and exquisite Balucheri sarees. Today, we embark on a journey to explore the enchanting Shyamrai Temple, a marvel of architectural brilliance.

History:

In ancient times, the region around Bishnupur was known as Mallabhum, or the Bishnupur Kingdom, ruled by the illustrious Malla dynasty for centuries. Shielded from the turmoil of Muslim or Mughal invasions, the dynasty thrived under the leadership of its founder, Adi Malla.

Bishnupur flourished during the reigns of King Bir Hambir and King Bir Singha, who introduced the worship of Madan Mohan, or Lord Krishna. Their patronage led to the construction of numerous brick temples, marking the town's architectural legacy.

With stone in short supply, the Malla Kings turned to terracotta, adorning Bishnupur with elaborately decorated temples during the 17th and 18th centuries CE.

Temple Architecture and Layout:

Commissioned by Malla King Raghunath Singh in 1643 CE, the Shyamrai Temple stands as a testament to Bishnupur's architectural grandeur. Crafted entirely from brick, it features intricate terracotta ornamentation adorning both its interior and exterior walls.

The temple showcases the Pancha Ratna architecture style, boasting five sikharas (pinnacles) atop a traditional Bangla-style curved Chala roof. While the central sikharas are octagonal, the remaining four are square-shaped, resting on the curved roof's four sides.

Surrounded by a triple-arched gateway on all four sides, the sanctum sanctorum hosts extensive terracotta artworks, including scenes from Hindu epics, floral designs, and depictions of Radha and Krishna's divine romance.

One of the sikharas fell down and it was rebuilt by ASI. Hence, it does not have any artwork. You can easily make out of difference. Instead of making the sikhara curvilinear form, the ASI had made it straight.

The intensively carved sculptures include the hunting scenes, battle between Rama and Ravana, Krishna romancing Radha, Krishna playing flute, different scenes of Krishna Lila, various animals, birds, floral designs, scenes from the Puranas and epics, etc. There is a huge Ras chakra which is the major highlight among all terracotta works in this temple. It depicts Krishna and Radha in the middle surrounded by Gopis in many concentric circles.

While dedicated to Radha and Krishna, the temple currently lacks deities. Nevertheless, a visit to Bishnupur would be incomplete without experiencing the terracotta splendor of the Shyamrai Temple.

Happy travelling.