Aebeez at 16:36, 19 February 2026

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{{Infobox religious building
| name = Kotulpur Sridhar temple
| image = Sridhar Temple Kotulpur Bankura.jpg
| image_upright =
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| religious_affiliation = [[Hinduism]]
| coordinates = {{coord|23.0097401|N|87.5885288|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
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| tradition =
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| district = [[Bankura district|Bankura]]
| state = [[West Bengal]]
| region =
| deity = Sridhar Chandra Thakur
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| locale = [[Kotulpur]]
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| country = {{flag|India}}
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| architecture_type = [[Bengal temple architecture]]
| architecture_style = [[Ratna Style|''Ratna'']] Style
| founded_by =
| creator =
| funded_by = Bhadra family
| general_contractor =
| established = 1833
| groundbreaking =
| year_completed = 1833 (1345 [[Bangabda|Baṅgābda]]){{sfn|Bandyopadhyay|1971|p=41}}
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}}
'''Kotulpur Sridhar temple''' is a [[Vishnu]] temple at Shiromanipur village in [[West Bengal]]. Hindu God Vishnu is worshiped as ''Sridhar'' ([[Shaligram]]) in this temple. It is located in Kotulpur police station of [[Bankura district|Bankura]] district. Built by the ''Bhadra'' family, known as traders and [[Zamindars of Bengal|zamindars]], the temple stands within the ''Bhadra'' palace. The temple is a great example of [[Ratna Style|''ratna'']] architecture, which was erected in the early 1830s.<ref name="Anandabazar-Patrika1">{{cite web |last1=Barat |first1=Biplab |title=কোতুলপুরের শ্রীধর জীউর মন্দির |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/editorial/a-special-article-about-the-pancharatna-temple-of-kotulpur-1.973945 |website=[[Anandabazar Patrika]] |access-date=3 November 2023 |language=bn |script-title=bn:Kōtulapurēra śrīdhara jī'ura mandira |trans-title=Sridhar Jiu Temple of Kotulpur |date=1 April 2019}}</ref>

==History==
A man named Sadananda Bhadra settled in [[Kotulpur]] in the late seventeenth century. He established the [[Zamindars of Bengal|zamindari]] by purchasing the zamindari ownership of seventeen taluks near Kotulpur from [[Bardhaman Raj|Maharaja of Burdwan]] [[Uday Chand Mahtab]]. But, Bhadra was essentially a merchant, and traded in [[salt]], [[Thread (yarn)|thread]] and [[Mustard seed|mustard]]. Later, the Zamindar family built the [[Ratna Style|''Pancharatna'']] style "Sridhar Jiu Mandir", also built the ''Durgamondapa'', ''Nahabatkhana'', Girigovardhan Mondir, Rasamancha.<ref name="Anandabazar-Patrika1"/>

[[Ramakrishna|Sri Ramakrishna]] stayed at [[Kamarpukur]] for eight months from March 3 to October 10, 1880. According to the ''[[Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita]]'', Ramakrishna appeared at Bhadra Zamindar's house at this time.<ref name="Anandabazar-Patrika1"/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Gupta |first1=Mahendranath |title=Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita |page=44 |edition=First |language=bn}}</ref>

==Architecture==
The temple is a good example of the [[Terracotta temples of West Bengal|terracotta temples of Bengal]]. One of the [[Ratna Style|''ratna style'']] of [[Bengal temple architecture]] is observed in it. The temple is surrounded by a rectangular ''[[plinth]]'', slightly higher than the temple courtyard, but lower than the floor of the temple. There is a threshold (staircase) with three steps between the temple courtyard and the ''plinth''.<ref name="Anandabazar-Patrika1"/>

The temple has five ''ratna''s (pinnacles) – four at the four corners of the roof and one in the middle – which classifies it as a [[Ratna Style#Pancha-ratna|''pancha-ratna'']]{{sfn|Bandyopadhyay|1971|p=41}} style temple. The ''ratna''s or pinnacles of this temple are similar to the [[Deula#Rekha Deula|''rekha deul'']]. The temple gradually tapers towards the sloping roof. Both the length and breadth of the temple are 15 ft. 9 in. and about 30 ft. in height.{{sfn|Bandyopadhyay|1971|p=41}}<ref name="Anandabazar-Patrika1"/>

==Artwork==
{{multiple image |perrow=3/3|total_width=380|caption_align=left|image_style=border:none;|background color=#F7E7CE
| align =right
| title =Panels above the arches of the temple facade
| image1 =Terracotta panels of Sridhar Temple at Kotulpur of Bankura district in West Bengal 05.jpg
| image2 =Terracotta panels of Sridhar Temple at Kotulpur of Bankura district in West Bengal 03.jpg
| image3 =Terracotta panels of Sridhar Temple at Kotulpur of Bankura district in West Bengal 04.jpg
| footer = '''Left''': The left panel depicts the battle between Rama and Ravana, '''Center''': Median panel depicting a chariot procession, '''Right''': The right panel is engraved with a ''Vastraharan'' scenario.
}}

[[Terracotta]] art work and decorations are observed in the temple. The terracotta plaque on the center of the facade is engraved with a scenario of ''[[Ratha Yatra]]'' (chariot procession). In front of the chariot, there is a crowd procession of dancing men and women in a row, and a figure of kneeling priest is carved on the chariot. The chariot procession shows [[Krishna]] and [[Balarama]] leaving for [[Mathura]] while the gopinis crying and lying down in front of the chariot to persuading Krishna to not leave for Mathura. The upper terracotta plaque contains figures of [[Rama]] and [[Sita]], flanked by [[Lakshmana]] holding an [[umbrella]] and [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Bharata]] with chamar in hand, and [[Hanuman]] and [[Jambavan|Jambuban]] standing with joined hands. The scenario of battle between [[Rama]] and [[Ravana]] is engraved on the left side terracotta plaque.{{sfn|Bandyopadhyay|1971|p=41}} Right side terracotta plaque has ''Vastraharan'' scenario on the top, ''Gostholila'' on the middle, and figures of bird and flower are bottom. The ''Vastraharan'' scenario shows that [[Krishna]] is teaching to give up shame from the 8th side of the creature.{{sfn|Bandyopadhyay|1971|p=41}}<ref name="Anandabazar-Patrika1"/>
[[File:Terracotta panels of Sridhar Temple at Kotulpur of Bankura district in West Bengal 01.jpg|270px|thumb|left|The upper part of central terracotta plaque contains figures of [[Rama]] and [[Sita]] with foundation plaque.]]
At the two corners of the [[cornice]] at the top of the temple arch are carved scenes of boat journeys, reminding us that Bhadra, like [[Chand Sadagar]] at ''[[Manasamangal Kāvya]]'', used to boats on the river to trade in distant lands. There are 12 terracotta plaques on the left and 12 on the right and 19 in the middle of the facade of temple with [[Dashavatara]] and mythological stories engraved on them.<ref name="Anandabazar-Patrika1"/>

Social scenarios in the terracotta sculpture{{sfn|Bandyopadhyay|1971|p=41}} are tobacco consumption, spices in ''Hamandista'', worship of Shiva decorated in social episodes and drum player. Sculpture of ''Dasbhuja'' [[Durga]] in the middle plaque, but the sons and daughters are excluded. Besides, the scenarios of the dancing posture reminds the classical culture in the context of [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism]]. The abundance of geometric and floral sculptures can be seen on terracotta plaques of the columns.

The plaques of this temple are found in the art of the [[two-dimensional]] human statue painted by [[Nandalal Bose]] and [[Jamini Roy]]. Also, similarities to the ''[[Pattachitra]]'' made by ''[[patua]]'' of Bharatpur, Shushunia.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{Cite book| last=Bandyopadhyay | first=Amiya kumar | title=বাঁকুড়া জেলার পুরাকীর্তি | publisher=[[Department of Public Works (West Bengal)|Public Works Department, Government of West Bengal]] |date=February 1971 |language=bn |script-title=bn:Bām̐kuṛā jēlāra purākīrti |trans-title=Antiquities of Bankura District}}
* {{Cite book| last = Dasgupta | first=R. K | title=Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita as a religious classic | publisher=Bulletin of the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture |date=June 1986}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Sridhar Temple, Kotulpur}}

{{Hindu temples in West Bengal}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Bankura district]]

Kotulpur Sridhar Temple - Revision history

Aebeez at 16:36, 19 February 2026