https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Malleswara_Shiva_TempleMalleswara Shiva Temple - Revision history2026-07-31T16:34:43ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Malleswara_Shiva_Temple&diff=476423&oldid=prevShubhamsaini9 at 11:22, 10 February 20252025-02-10T11:22:43Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Panch-ratna temple in West Bengal, India}}<br />
{{Infobox religious building<br />
| name = Malleswara Shiva Temple<br />
| native_name= <br />
| religious_affiliation = [[Hinduism]]<br />
| image = File:Malleshwar Shiva Temple at Malleswarpur area of Chandrakona at Paschim Medinipur district 03.jpg<br />
| alt = <br />
| caption = Malleswara Shiva Temple in Chandrakona<br />
| map_type = India West Bengal # India<br />
| map_alt = <br />
| map_caption = <br />
| coordinates = {{coord|22.7225|N|87.5126|E|display=inline,title}}<br />
| location = [[Chandrakona]]<br/>Paschim Medinipur district<br />
| state = West Bengal <br />
| country = {{flag|India}}<br />
| elevation_m = <br />
| year_completed = 18th century<br />
| architecture_type = [[Bengal temple architecture#Ratna temple|Pancharatna]]<br />
| festivals = <br />
| deity = <br />
}}<br />
'''Malleswara Shiva Temple''' is a ''pancha-ratna'' temple, built in the 18th century at [[Chandrakona]] in [[Ghatal subdivision]] of [[Paschim Medinipur district]] in [[West Bengal]], [[India]].<br />
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==History==<br />
The Chandrakona area was once thickly forested. The earliest rulers of the area were the Ketu dynasty, who possibly ruled up to the 16th century, when they were overthrown by the Chouhan dynasty, also known as Bhan kings. They built several temples in and around Chandrakona. The last Bhan king, Mitrasen, died childless and Raghunath Singh of Bishnupur took over the kingdom. Subsequently, Kirtichandra of Burdwan defeated him and annexed the area. He built many temples in Chandrakona. It came under the rule of British East India Company in 1760.<ref name="temple">{{cite web | url = https://www.livehistoryindia.com/cover-story/2020/05/04/the-crumbling-temples-of-chandrakona | title = The Crumbling Temples of Chandrakona| first= Amitabha | last= Gupta| publisher = Live History India, 4 May 2020 |access-date = 21 August 2020}}</ref><br />
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==Geography== <br />
The Malleswara Shiva temple is located at {{coord|22.7225|N|87.5126|E|display=inline}}.<br />
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==The temple==<br />
[[David McCutchion|David J. McCutchion]] says that the ''[[Bengal temple architecture#Ratna temple|pancha-ratna]]'', along with the ''at-chala'', is the most popular type of Bengal temple, “especially in 19th century Midnapore where it outnumbers all others,” The 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 twentyfive. The ''ratna'' style came up in the 15th-16th century. McCutchion classifies the Malleswara Shiva temple as a ''pancha-ratna'' with ridged rekha turrets and porch on triple archway. Built of laterite possibly in the 18th century, it has [[stucco]] figures and measures 26’ square.<ref>McCutchion, David J., ''Late Mediaeval Temples of Bengal'', first published 1972, reprinted 2017, pages 8-10, 44, 46. The Asiatic Society, Kolkata, {{ISBN| 978-93-81574-65-2}}</ref><br />
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There is another view point worth noting. The Malleswar Shiva temple is one of the oldest temples in Chandrakona. It was in all probability built in the 14th century and was renovated by Maharaja Tejchandra in 1831. The temple originally stood in a fortified compound. There was a double storied gateway and a plate detailed the renovation work done by Maharaja Tejchandra. The gate is in a dilapidated condition and the plate is missing. There was a ''natmandir'' till 2017, when it was pulled down by locals with the excuse of being in a bad shape and unsafe. The [[Chandrakona Jorbangla Temple|Jorbangla temple]] is just 500 m away.<ref name="temple"/><br />
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It has a height of 60’.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://templenet.com/encbeng1.html | title = Temples of West Bengal | work= Item 33| publisher = Temple Net |access-date = 21 August 2020}}</ref><br />
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See also - Other temples at Chandrakona: [[Chandrakona Jorbangla Temple]], [[Shantinatha Shiva Temple]], [[Parvatinatha Temple]]<br />
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==Malleswara Shiva temple picture gallery==<br />
<gallery widths="200px" heights="160px"><br />
File:Malleshwar Shiva Temple at Malleswarpur area of Chandrakona at Paschim Medinipur district 03.jpg<br />
File:Malleshwar Shiva Temple at Malleswarpur area of Chandrakona at Paschim Medinipur district 09.jpg<br />
File:Stucco work on Malleshwar Shiva Temple at Malleswarpur area of Chandrakona at Paschim Medinipur district 20.jpg<br />
File:Stucco work on Malleshwar Shiva Temple at Malleswarpur area of Chandrakona at Paschim Medinipur district 03.jpg<br />
</gallery><br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
{{commons category|Malleshwar Shiva temple, Chandrakona}}<br />
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{{Paschim Medinipur topics}}<br />
{{Hindu temples in West Bengal}}<br />
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[[Category:Hindu temples in West Bengal]]<br />
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Paschim Medinipur district]]</div>Shubhamsaini9