Kamal Guha at 13:34, 30 October 2023

2023-10-30T13:34:27Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Bahulara Ancient Temple
| native_name= '''An [[Archaeological Survey of India|ASI]] [[List of Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal|Listed Monument]]'''
| religious_affiliation = [[Buddhism]]/ [[Jainism]]/ [[Hinduism]]
| image = Siddheshwara Temple at Bahulara, Bankura.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India West Bengal # India
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|23.1694|N|87.2389|E|display=inline,title}}
| location = Bahulara Bankura district
| state = West Bengal
| country = India
| elevation_m = 19.2
| year_completed = 8th-11th century
| architecture_type = [[Deula|Rekha deul]]
| festivals =
| deity =
}}

'''Bahulara Ancient Temple''' is located in Bahulara village in the Onda II village panchayat, in the [[Onda (community development block)|Onda]] [[Community development blocks in India|CD block]] in the [[Bankura Sadar subdivision]] of the [[Bankura district]] in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[West Bengal]]. It is {{convert|5|km|abbr=on}} from [[Ondagram railway station]] and {{convert|25|km|abbr=on}} from [[Bishnupur (Bankura)|Bishnupur]].<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.india9.com/i9show/Bahulara-46798.htm |title = Bahulara | access-date = 2008-03-17 | publisher = India9.com }}</ref>

==Geography==
{{OSM Location map
| width=450| height=500| zoom=10
| coord={{coord|23|23|0|N|87|6|10|E}}| float=left|caption='''Places in Bankura Sadar subdivision in Bankura district''' M: municipal town/ city, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, H: hill centre, T: temple/ religious centre, B: barrage Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly 
|mark-coord1={{coord|23|19|48|N|87|13|12|E}} | label-pos1=right|label1= Beliatore| numbered1=CT| mark-title1= [[Beliatore]] (CT)|label-color1= #800000 |label-size1=11| mark-size1=12|shape1=l-circle|shape-color1=#A40000|shape-outline1=white|label-offset-x1=2
|mark-coord2={{coord|23|25|48|N|87|16|48|E}} | label-pos2=right|label2=Barjora| numbered2=CT| mark-title2= [[Barjora]] (CT)
|mark-coord3={{coord|23|26|44|N|87|15|8|E}} | label-pos3=right|label3=Ghutgarya| numbered3=CT| mark-title3= [[Ghutgarya]] (CT)
|mark-coord4={{coord|23|22|11|N|86|54|9|E}} | label-pos4=right|label4=Jhantipahari| numbered4=CT| mark-title4= [[Jhantipahari]] (CT)
|mark-coord5={{coord|23|15|0|N|87|4|12|E}}| label-pos5=right |label5=Bankura| numbered5=M| mark-title5 =[[Bankura]] (M)| shape-color5=#800000
|mark-coord6={{coord|23|16|34|N|86|59|52|E}}| label-pos6=left|label6=Achuri| numbered6=R| mark-title6= [[Achuri]] (R)| shape-color6=#C42222
|mark-coord7={{coord|23|23|50|N|87|6|32|E}}| label-pos7=right|label7=Amarkanan| numbered7=R| mark-title7= [[Amarkanan]] (R)| shape-color7=#C42222
|mark-coord8={{coord|23|15|45|N|87|5|32|E}}| label-pos8=left|label8=Bikna| numbered8=R| mark-title8= [[Bikna]] (R)| shape-color8=#C42222
|mark-coord9={{coord|23|18|6|N|86|58|57|E}}| label-pos9=right|label9=Chhatna| numbered9=R| mark-title9= [[Chhatna]] (R)| shape-color9=#C42222
|mark-coord10={{coord|23|28|12|N|87|7|48|E}}| label-pos10=left|label10=Durlabhpur| numbered10=R| mark-title10= [[Durlabhpur]] (R)| shape-color10=#C42222
|mark-coord11={{coord|23|25|12|N|87|7|12|E}}| label-pos11=right|label11=Gangajalghati| numbered11=R| mark-title11= [[Gangajalghati]] (R)| shape-color11=#C42222
|mark-coord12={{coord|23|18|51|N|87|5|38|E}}| label-pos12=right|label12=Kanchanpur| numbered12=R| mark-title12= [[Kanchanpur, Bankura]] (R)| shape-color12=#C42222
|mark-coord13={{coord|23|28|30|N|87|13|22|E}}| label-pos13=left|label13=Maliara| numbered13=R| mark-title13= [[Maliara]] (R)| shape-color13=#C42222
|mark-coord14={{coord|23|6|22|N|87|11|5|E}}| label-pos14=left|label14=Medinipur| numbered14=R| mark-title14= [[Medinipur, Bankura]] (R)| shape-color14=#C42222
|mark-coord15={{coord|23|34|12|N|87|6|0|E}}| label-pos15=left|label15=Mejia| numbered15=R| mark-title15= [[Mejia, Bankura]] (R)| shape-color15=#C42222
|mark-coord16={{coord|23|10|9|N|87|9|48|E}}| label-pos16=left|label16=Murakata| numbered16=R| mark-title16= [[Murakata]] (R)| shape-color16=#C42222
|mark-coord17={{coord|23|8|31|N|87|12|7|E}}| label-pos17=left|label17=Onda| numbered17=R| mark-title17= [[Onda, Bankura]] (R)| shape-color17=#C42222
|mark-coord18={{coord|23|24|33|N|87|22|35|E}}| label-pos18=left|label18=Pakhanna| numbered18=R| mark-title18= [[Pakhanna]] (R)| shape-color18=#C42222
|mark-coord19={{coord|23|12|48|N|87|1|8|E}}| label-pos19=left|label19=Puabagan| numbered19=R| mark-title19= [[Puabagan]] (R)| shape-color19=#C42222
|mark-coord20={{coord|23|10|53|N|86|48|33|E}}| label-pos20=right|label20=Saldiha| numbered20=R| mark-title20= [[Saldiha]] (R)| shape-color20=#C42222
|mark-coord21={{coord|23|31|59|N|86|55|59|E}}| label-pos21=left|label21=Saltora| numbered21=R| mark-title21= [[Saltora]] (R)| shape-color21=#C42222
|mark-coord22={{coord|23|24|0|N|86|59|0|E}}| label-pos22=right|label22=Susunia| numbered22=H| mark-title22= [[Susunia]] (H)| shape-color22=#87410E
|mark-coord23={{coord|23|34|29|N|86|55|57|E}}| label-pos23=right|label23=Biharinath| numbered23=H| mark-title23= [[Biharinath]] (H)| shape-color23=#87410E
|mark-coord24={{coord|23|9|55|N|87|14|20|E}} | label-pos24=top|label24=Bahulara| numbered24=T| mark-title24= Bahulara Ancient Temple (T) |shape-color24=black| label-size24=13|label-color24=black 
|mark-coord25={{coord|23|12|38|N|87|5|31|E}} | label-pos25=bottom|label25=Ekteswar| numbered25=T| mark-title25= [[Ekteswar]] (T) |shape-color25=#AA6666
|mark-coord26={{coord|23|12|52|N|87|7|22|E}} | label-pos26=right|label26=Sonatapal| numbered26=T| mark-title26= [[Sonatapal]] (T) |shape-color26=#AA6666
|mark-coord27={{coord|23|20|48|N|87|18|12|E}} | label-pos27=top|label27=Jagannathpur| numbered27=T| mark-title27= [[Jagannathpur, Bankura]] (T) |shape-color27=#AA6666
|mark-coord28={{coord|23.4754|87.3023}}| label28= Durgapur|labela28= Barrage| label-color28 = #C42222 | label-angle28=0| label-pos28=right| label-size28=10| mark-size28=12| numbered28=B|mark-title28 =[[Durgapur Barrage]]| shape-color28=#C42222
|mark-coord29={{coord|23.5088|87.2418}}| label29=Damodar River| label-color29 = #77A1CB| label-angle29=40| label-pos29=top| label-size29=10| mark-size29=0| mark-title29 =none
|mark-coord30={{coord|23.3028|86.8958}}| label30=Dwarakeswar| label-color30 = #77A1CB| label-angle30=70| label-pos30=top| label-size30=10| mark-size30=0| mark-title30 =none
|mark-coord31={{coord|23.2488|86.9318}}| label31= River| label-color31 = #77A1CB| label-angle31=20| label-pos31=top| label-size31=10| mark-size31=0| mark-title31 =none}}

===Location===
Bahulara is located at {{coord|23.1694|N|87.2389|E|display=inline}}.

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

==Siddheshwara temple==
The Siddheshwara [[Shiva]] temple at Bahulara is well known for its unique architectural style and exquisite cut-brick and lime-stucco ornamentation of the walls.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.india-tourism.com/EN/vishnupur.html| title= Incredible India| access-date= 2008-03-17| work= West Bengal| publisher= India tourism| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080302022801/http://india-tourism.com/EN/vishnupur.html| archive-date= 2 March 2008| url-status= dead}}</ref> This [[shaivite]] temple, located upon a huge iron-age habitational or ritualistic mound, is considered to be the finest specimen of brick {{transl|bn|rekha [[deul]]}} temple made on the lines of [[Kalinga architecture]] and is ascribed to the early to mid-[[Pala Empire|Pala]] period. Possibly it was built sometime approximately around 8th-11th century CE as a Jain/Buddhist shrine and later on got reconsecrated as a shaivite monument by the [[Mallabhum|Malla]] monarchs of Bishnupur. Other than the central [[Lingam|Shiva lingam]] the sanctum sanctorum or the [[garbhagriha]] has figurines of [[Ganesha]], [[Jain]] [[tirthankar]] [[Parsva|Parshvsanatha]] and one of [[Durga|Mahisasurmardini]]. The exterior of the temple is covered with magnificent stucco ornamentation woven across beautiful intricacies of cut-brick designs. The area around the temple has many ancient relics and old mounds that echoes the extensive and intensive natures of long and enigmatic histories that the place entombs.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.blessingsonthenet.com/travel/showplace4.asp?place=Bahulara | title = Bahulara | access-date = 2008-03-17 | work = West Bengal | publisher = blessingsonthenet.com | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071107081740/http://blessingsonthenet.com/travel/showplace4.asp?place=Bahulara | archive-date = 7 November 2007 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Height of this temple is 19.2 metre at present.

Situated on the banks of the [[Dwarakeswar River]], "Siddheshwara temple at Bahulara in the Bankura district is probably the finest specimen of a brick built {{transl|bn|rekha deul}} temple of medieval period now standing in Bengal," according to [[Nalini Kanta Bhattasali|Nalini Bhattasali]]. The topmost portion of the spire, called the [[amalaka]], has been damaged at some point in the past, and furthermore in spite of recent restorative efforts by the government much of the temple's original ornamentations had fallen prey to the ravages of time. In the month of [[Chaitra]] the Bahulara Shiva [[Gajan (festival)|Gajan]] takes place over the span of three days with hundreds of devotees attending the festival.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.hindulinks.org/Temples_Yatra_and_Organizations/Temples_and_Ashrams/India/West_Bengal/Bankura/index.html | title = Temples of West Bengal | access-date = 2008-03-17 | work = Siddheswari temple | publisher = Hindu Links Universe}}</ref>
[[File:KITLV 88208 - Unknown - Temple at Bahulara in British India - 1897.tif|thumb|200px|left|Temple at Bahulara photographed by an unknown photographer in 1897. Presently in the collection of Leiden University]]
==Buddhist and Jain centre==
According to [[Binoy Ghosh]], the various habitational and ritualistic mounds surrounding the temple at Bahulara have led archaeologists to speculate that it was a thriving Buddhist centre at some ancient point of time. The series of brick and stone-crafted mounds beside the {{transl|bn|deul}} are believed to be the ruins of Buddhist [[stupas]] where the remains of Buddhist [[bhikkhus]] and [[bhikkhuni]]s were entombed after cremation. Prior to the dominance of [[Shaivism]] and [[Shaktism]], the area was influenced by [[Buddhism]] and [[Jainism]] from the late millenniums BCE to the early centuries CE until roughly the cusp of the 7th and 8th centuries CE when the kingdom of [[Mallabhum]] was established. Archaeologists feel that the temple was built in the [[Pala Empire|Pala era]]. [[Ananda Coomaraswamy]] believes that the present {{transl|bn|deul}} was built in the 10th century. Others feel that it could be a century or two later. [[Jatar Deul]], in the [[Sundarbans settlements|Sundarbans]], came up during the same period. The temples at [[Dihar]], in Bankura district, are also {{transl|bn|rekh deuls}}.<ref>Ghosh, Binoy, ''Paschim Banger Sanskriti'', (in Bengali), part I, 1976 edition, p. 363, Prakash Bhaban</ref>

==Rekha deul==
[[David McCutchion|David J. McCutchion]] says that the pre-dominant traditional architectural style for temples in the western areas of Bengal in the pre-Muslim period is the tall curvilinear ''[[Bengal temple architecture#rekha deul|rekha deul]]'' and it went on developing from the late 7th century or early 8th century to around the 12th century, increasing its complexity and height but retaining its basic features. Such temples had “curvilinear ''[[shikhara]]'' with ''[[chaitya]]'' mesh decoration, surmounted by a large ''[[amalaka]]'' and ''[[Kalasam|kalasa]]'' [[finial]]. Examples of such dilapidated {{transl|bn|deuls}} are still standing at [[Sat Deul|Satdeula]] (in Bardhaman), Bahulara and [[Sonatapal]] (in Bankura) and [[Deulghata|Deulghat]] (in Purulia). On the brick {{transl|bn|deuls}} already mentioned here, plus [[Jatar Deul|Jatar]] (in 24 Parganas) and [[Para, Purulia|Para]] (in Purulia), “we find extensive and remarkably fine [[stucco]] work on carved brick”.<ref>McCutchion, David J., ''Late Mediaeval Temples of Bengal'', first published 1972, reprinted 2017, pages 3,13. The Asiatic Society, Kolkata, {{ISBN| 978-93-81574-65-2}}</ref>

According to the [[List of Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal]] the Ancient Temple at Bahulara is an ASI listed monument.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://asi.nic.in/alphabetical-list-of-monuments-west-bengal/|title=List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of West Bengal - Archaeological Survey of India|publisher= ASI|work= Item no. 6|access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref>

==Bahulara picture gallery==
<gallery widths="150px" heights="100px">
File:Deul of Bohulara (29).jpg|View outside
File:Deul of Bohulara (26).jpg|The deities
File:Deul of Bohulara (66).jpg|Wall decorations
File:Deul of Bohulara (90).jpg|Wall decorations
File:Deul of Bohulara (52).jpg|Wall decorations
File:Deul of Bohulara (58).jpg|Wall decorators
File:Deul of Bohulara (03).jpg|Visitors
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist|3}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Siddheshwar temple, Bahulara}}
* {{Wikivoyage-inline|Bankura}}
* {{Wikivoyage-inline|Bishnupur (West Bengal)}}

{{Bankura topics}}
{{Hindu temples in West Bengal}}
{{Jain centres in West Bengal}}

[[Category:Temples in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Bankura district]]

Bahulara Ancient Temple - Revision history

Kamal Guha at 13:34, 30 October 2023