Bengal temple architecture

Background

Both eoigraphic evidences and literary sources hint at the existence of numerous temples in Bengal. Foreign travellers like Fa Hien, Hiuen Tsang noticed a large number of monasteries, temples and stupas in different parts of Bengal.

According to David J. McCutchion historically the religious architecture in Bengal may be divided into three periods: the early Hindu period dominated by the Pala & Sena dynasties (up to the end of the 12th century, or may be a little later in certain areas), the Sultanate period (14th to early 16th century), and the Hindu revival period beginning with the Mughal conquest (16th to 19th century). "The coming of the Muslims at the beginning of the 13th century marked a sharp break with the past. After an initial century or so of anarchy and consolidation ... Bengal as we know it today became an independent entity for the first time. During the following two centuries a distinctive Bengali culture took shape".

"Between the earlier and later Hindu periods astonishing religious changes took place in Bengal: the worship of Vishnu gave way to that of Radha Krishna of Chamunda to that of Kali; Surya fell entirely out of favour; curious folk cults like that of Dharmathakur or Dakshin Rai arose." The temples of pre-Muslim period can be called tall curvilinear rekha deul. Another equally common group of temples found in Pre-Mughal Bengal are temples with tiered pyramidal tower can be described as pirha or bhadra deul. During the earlier and later Hindu period the religious changes in Bengal introduced some changes in the temple architecture. In their places of the other temple styles two completely new styles developed - hut style and the pinnacled style.

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Rekha deul

The rekha deul was the predominant form of temple architecture in Bengal during the pre Islamic period. According to David J. McCutchion, this type of temple achieved its standard initial form in central India and was spread to different places which included Bengal. The features of this type temple are "smooth curvilinear" and "ridged curvilinear." In the smooth type, the sikhara is free of horizontal bars and in ridged type, it is closely ridged with bars. The ratha projections are generally deep and spaced, and sometimes decorated. The crowning amalaka is generally large and flat. There are large and small types of deuls. Many of the very small types dispense with the complicated styling. It went on developing from the late 7 th century or early 8 th century to around the 19 th century, increasing its complexity and height but retaining its basic features.

Chala temple

The ek-bangla or do-chala consists of a brick-built structure resembling rural mud huts with two sloping roofs, resembling thatched straw roofs of Bengali villages. The stone temple at Garui in Bardhaman district of West Bengal, built in the 14th century, has a Bengal hut shaped roof. Two huts, one forming a porch in front and the other being the shrine at the back constitutes the jor-bangla design – "Bengal's most distinctive contribution to temple architecture".

In West Bengal, the hut roof generally has four sides and the char-chala temple is built on this model. If a miniature duplicate is built on the roof, it becomes an at-chala. The char-chala temple form was well established by the 16 th -17 th century. Perhaps the earliest char chala temple in Bengal dates back to 15 th century.

Ratna temple

The curved roof of a ratna temple "is surmounted by one or more towers or pinnacles called ratna (jewel). The simplest form has a single central tower (eka-ratna), to which may be added four more at the corners (pancha-ratna)". The number of towers or pinnacles can be increased up to a maximum of twenty-five. The ratna style was developed in 16th-17th century in Bengal .

"Ratna style temples are the composite type of architecture... The lower part of the temple has all the features of the curved cornices and a short pointed spire crowns the roof and this will be adorned with the introduction of ratnas or kiosks."

Dalan temple

The flat-roofed temples or dalan temples came up in 19th century.It combined the use of barrel vaults introduced during Islamic rule with native usage of horse-shoe shaped curved arches. In the long run, this style lost its special identity as religious architecture and got mixed up with domestic architecture.

East Bengali shikhari style

In eastern Bengal (present day Bangladesh), the rekha deul style evolved during the late Mughal era into a distinct style called shikhari (colloquially called math), characterised by an octagonal bases bearing the curvilinear chalas supporting a tapering pyramidal sikhara. In some cases the octagonal base of the pyramidal sikhara might be placed upon a traditional four-cornerned base. This change is believed to have occurred under the influence of Mughal architecture.

Grouped temple

Temples of identical style and size are sometimes grouped together. Two identical Shiva temples are called a Jora Shiva temple. Groups of four, six and twelve Shiva temples are quite popular. The most elaborate groups existing have 108 Shiva temples.