Ankithreddy at 05:19, 28 March 2026

2026-03-28T05:19:46Z

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{{Short description|Hindu temple in West Bengal, India}}
{{Infobox religious building
| religious_affiliation = [[Hinduism]]
| name = Kapil Muni Temple
| image = Kapil Muni Temple.jpg
| alt = Kapil Muni Temple
| coordinates = {{coord|21.6365357|N|88.0733355|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| map_type = India West Bengal
| map_relief = yes
| state = [[West Bengal]]
| country = [[India]]
| district = [[South 24 Parganas]]
| locale = [[Gangasagar]]
| deity = Ganga, [[Kapil|Kapil Muni]], King of the Sea
| architecture = [[Hindu temple architecture]]
| architecture_style =
| creator = (Many reconstructions)
| year_completed = 1974 (present structure)
| festivals = [[Gangasagar Mela]]
| governing_body =
| website =
}}

'''Kapil Muni Temple''' or '''Kapil Muni Mandir''' ({{langx|bn|কপিল মুনি মন্দির}}) is a [[Hindu temple]] located on the [[Gangasagar]] in the [[States and union territories of India|Indian state]] of [[West Bengal]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Kapil Muni Ashram - Mythological Significance |url=https://www.gangasagar.in/en/about/mythologicalsignificance |website=www.gangasagar.in |access-date=30 March 2023}}</ref> It is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for Hindus and it is believed that [[Kapil|Kapil Muni]] did [[Tapas (Indian religions)|''Tapas'']] here.

== History ==
=== Ancient temples ===
A [[Gupta era]] temple existed on this spot.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Halder |first1=Mohan |last2=Baksi |first2=Shanto |title=Gangasagar Mela Pilgrimage and Development at the Sagar Island |url=https://www.academia.edu/7626104/Gangasagar_Mela_Pilgrimage_and_Development_at_the_Sagar_Island |publisher=Society for Socio-Economic and Ecological Development |access-date=15 January 2024 |date=January 2014}}</ref> This temple was lost due to [[coastal erosion]]. Around the early 19th century, when [[Warren Hastings]] had the island cleared of vegetation and the site came under the zamindari of a local [[Bengali Hindus|Bengali Hindu]] [[zamindar]] from [[Purba Medinipur district|Purba Medinipur]] called Yaduram who recovered the shrine of Kapilmuni. Then the site came under control of [[Ramanandi Sampradaya|Ramanandi]] sadhus from [[Ayodhya]].<ref name="anandabazar1" /> The old temple was made of bamboo which was destroyed in the late 50s or early 60s due to [[1950s North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons|cyclones]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=চক্রবর্তী |first=গৌতম |title=‘সব তীর্থ বারবার গঙ্গাসাগর এক বার’ |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/rabibashoriyo/some-unknown-information-about-gangasagar-mela-1.739669 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241205080817/https://www.anandabazar.com/rabibashoriyo/some-unknown-information-about-gangasagar-mela-1.739669 |archive-date=2024-12-05 |access-date=2025-02-05 |language=bn |url-status=live }}</ref> The first brick-built temple was built in 1961 for Rs 20,000, and the roof of the temple was made of [[Asbestos cement|asbestos]]. The former [[List of chief ministers of West Bengal|Chief Minister]] [[Bidhan Chandra Roy]] contributed Rs 11,000 to the construction of the temple. The construction of the temple was done by "S Chakraborty & Co." The temple was smaller in size than the present temple.<ref name="anandabazar1">{{cite web |author1=Gautam Chakraborty |title=‘সব তীর্থ বারবার গঙ্গাসাগর এক বার’ |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/rabibashoriyo/some-unknown-information-about-gangasagar-mela-1.739669 |website=Anandabazar |access-date=30 March 2023 |language=bn |date=14 January 2018}}</ref>

=== New temple: 1974–present ===
The new temple was built in 1974.<ref name="anandabazar1"/> As the temple and temple premises are on the banks of the [[Ganges|Ganges River]] and the [[Bay of Bengal]], sea and river water enters the temple and temple premises occasionally during [[Tide|High tide]] or [[Cyclone|cyclonic storms]]. A strong tropical cyclone named [[Cyclone Yaas|Yaas]] formed in the [[Bay of Bengal]] in late May 2021. Due to the impact of this storm, tidal water entered Kapil Muni's Ashram and temple.<ref>{{cite web |title=সাগরের কপিলমুণির আশ্রম চত্বরে একবুক জল, নিরাপদ আশ্রয়ের খোঁজে বাসিন্দারা |url=https://bangla.hindustantimes.com/bengal/districts/the-yard-of-kapil-muni-ashram-is-flooded-with-the-water-of-sagar-31622010490807.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623234921/https://bangla.hindustantimes.com/bengal/districts/the-yard-of-kapil-muni-ashram-is-flooded-with-the-water-of-sagar-31622010490807.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 23, 2021 |website=bangla.hindustantimes.com |access-date=30 March 2023 |language=bn}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
{{Hindu temples in West Bengal}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in South 24 Parganas district]]
[[Category:Sagar Island]]

Kapil Muni Temple - Revision history

Ankithreddy at 05:19, 28 March 2026