Ajay Kumar at 17:55, 29 August 2023

2023-08-29T17:55:25Z

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{{short description|Temples of Maluti village of India}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Maluti temples
| image = Malooti1.jpg
| alt =
| caption = View of some of Maluti temples
| map_type = India Jharkhand
| map_caption = Location in Malati village, Jharkhand
| coordinates = {{coord|24|09|N|87|40|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| country = India
| state = Jharkhand
| district = [[Dumka district]]
| location = [[Maluti]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Shiva]]
Mauliksha devi
| festivals=[[Kali Puja]]
| architecture = [[Bengal temple architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity = 78+8
| temple_tank =
| inscriptions =
| year_completed = 17th to 19th century
| creator =
| website =
}}

'''Maluti temples''' are a group of 72 extant [[terracotta]] temples (out of the original number of 108),<ref name="wwfindia"/> located in the [[Maluti|Maluti village]] near [[Shikaripara]] in [[Dumka district]] on the eastern part of the [[Chota Nagpur Plateau]], [[States and union territories of India|Indian state]] of [[Jharkhand]].{{Sfn|Dutta|2007|p=284}} These temples, according to the [[Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development]] (ITRHD), were built between the 17th and 19th centuries. The kings of Baj Basanta dynasty built these temples in Maluti, their capital, inspired by goddess Mowlakshi, their family deity. Many of the temples are deified with different denominations of gods and goddesses, apart from the [[tutelary deity]] Mowlakshi, and others such as [[Shiva]], [[Durga]], [[Kali]] and [[Vishnu]]. The [[Global Heritage Fund]] (GHF) has proposed a conservation effort, which would increase tourism to the Maluti village. GHF has declared this site as one of the world's 12 most endangered cultural heritage sites.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://travelnewsindia.com/jharkhand-tourism-major-attraction/|title=Jharkhand Tourism {{!}} Major Destinations and Attraction {{!}} How to Reach|date=2016-08-07|newspaper=Travel News India|access-date=2017-02-24|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Location==
[[File:Temples of Maluti.JPG|left|thumb|Maluti temples]]
The extant Maluti terracotta temples are 72 which were built in four groups in Maluti near the border between [[Jharkhand]] and [[West Bengal]]. The Chila river flows through the village and meets the Dwarka river, close to [[Tarapith]].<ref name=Mal>{{Cite web|url=http://www.maluti.org/temples.html|title=Temples of Maluti|access-date=7 July 2015|publisher= maluti.org}}</ref><ref name=Reach>{{Cite web|url=http://www.maluti.org/location.html|title=How to reach Maluti?| access-date=7 July 2015|publisher= maluti.org}}</ref><ref name=Graph>{{Cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110306/jsp/calcutta/story_13671377.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309082026/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110306/jsp/calcutta/story_13671377.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 9, 2011|title= Next weekend you can be at ... Maluti|date=6 March 2011|access-date=7 July 2015|publisher=The Telegraph India}}</ref>

[[Rampurhat]], in Birbhum, [[West Bengal]] is [[Rampurhat railway station|the nearest railway station]] to the temple complex. Trains operate from [[Calcutta]].<ref name=Graph/> Bus services operate from Rampurhat and also from [[Dumka]].{{Sfn|Dutta|2007|p=284}} The distance from Maluti to Dumka, the district headquarters, is {{Convert|55|km}}, and Rampurhat to Maluti is {{Convert|16| km}}.<ref name=Reach/>

==History==
[[File:Maluti_Temple.jpg|thumb|Maluti Temple]]
[[File:Tepmles_in_maluti.jpg|thumb|Temples in Maluti, jharkhand]]

History of these temples is directly linked to the gift of the kingdom of Maluti, then known as "Nankar Raj" (meaning: tax-free kingdom"), that was granted to a [[Brahmin]] named Basanta by the Muslim ruler [[Alauddin Husain Shah]] of [[Gaura]] (1495–1525) for having saved his [[hawk]] (Baj) and returning it to him. Consequently, Basanta was given the suffix Raja and called Raja Baj Basanta. As Basanta was a religious person, he preferred building temples instead of palaces. Subsequently, his family divided into four clans and they continued to build the temples in Maluti, their capital, in clusters, inspired by goddess Mowlakshi, their family deity.<ref name="History">{{Cite web|url=http://www.maluti.org/history.html|title=The History| access-date=7 July 2015|publisher= maluti.org}}</ref><ref name="Graph" /> The name Maluti is said to be derived from Mallahati, the Malla Kings of [[Bankura]].<ref name="Reach" /> The [[Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development]] (ITRHD), has dated the building of these temples between the 17th and 19th centuries.<ref name="Trust">{{Cite web|url=http://www.itrhd.com/focus-areas-projects-maluti.asp|title= Projects: Maluti|access-date=7 July 2015|publisher=Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development (ITRHD)}}</ref> The Maluti temples were not known to the outside world until A.K.Sinha, Director of Archaeology, [[Government of Bihar]], publicized them, for the first time in 1979.<ref>{{cite book|title=Purātattva|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vNttAAAAMAAJ|year=2001|publisher=Indian Archaeological Society.|page=163}}</ref>

==Features==

Initially there were 108 temples built in the village,<ref name="wwfindia">{{cite web | url=http://awsassets.wwfindia.org/downloads/course_2__block_2.pdf | title=2. Threatened Heritage | publisher=CEL, WWF-India & National Law University Delhi | work=Unit 4: Leading tourism destinations in India | date=February 2013 | access-date=11 July 2015 | author=Ramya Iyer, CEL, WWF-India | pages=140–141 | quote=Maluti is famous for its 108 ancient temples – according to [[WWF-India]] – although today only 72 temples remain intact.}}</ref> within a radius of {{Convert|350|m}}, all dedicated to Lord Shiva. Of the 108 temples, only 72 still stand, but in a semi-dilapidated condition; the other 36 temples have been lost.<ref name=Trust/><ref name=Myth>{{Cite web|url=http://www.maluti.org/maa_mauliksha.html|title=Maa Mauliksha & the Myths|access-date=7 July 2015|publisher= maluti.org}}</ref> Many of the temples are deified with different denominations of gods and goddesses, apart from the [[tutelary deity]] '''Mauliksha''', and others such as [[Shiva]], [[Durga]], [[Kali]] and [[Vishnu]].<ref name=Geographic>{{Cite news|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/10/photogalleries/101023-ancient-landmarks-vanishing-global-heritage-report-pictures/#/world-heritage-fun-sites-threatened-maluti-temples-india_27814_600x450.jpg|title=Pictures: 12 Ancient Landmarks on Verge of Vanishing|work=Pictures: 12 Ancient Landmarks on Verge of Vanishing: Temples Poootttential|publisher=National Geographic}}</ref>
[[File:Bamakhyapa's_Temple.jpg|thumb|Bamakhyapa's Temple]]

Apart from the [[Shiva]] temples, there are also eight temples dedicated to Goddess [[Kali]]. There is a temple dedicated to a saint known as [[Bamakhyapa]] where his [[trident]] has been deified. Another important temple is that of [[Manasa|Manasa Devi]].{{Sfn|Dutta|2007|p=284}} The family deity of the Baj Basanta dynasty is goddess Mauliskha which is widely worshiped and devotees visit the Mauliskha temple all through the year; the goddess is deified facing west and is said to be the elder sister of goddess [[Tara (Devi)|Tara]].<ref name="Myth" />

The temples, designed in different styles, which were then popular throughout Bengal, by the artisans from Bengal, are grouped under five categories and none of them are in the architectural styles of the [[Nagara architecture|Nagara]], [[Vesara]] or [[Dravidian architecture|Dravida]].<ref name=Mal/><ref name=Trust/> According to Mc Cutchion, these temples were built to the ''Cara-cala'' design which consists of a square chamber "surmounted internally by a dome built over [[pendentives]]" with [[corbelled]] [[cornices]] which give the appearance of a hut-shaped roof.{{Sfn|Jhā|2009|p=92, 105}}

The temples have been decorated with sculptures of episodes from the epic [[Mahabharata]] and [[Ramayana]], and the fight between Durga and [[Mahishasura]]. Scenes of village life are also carved at some locations of the temples. There are a few inscriptions also on the temples which give details of building of the temples and also on the socio-political history of that period. These are inscribed and dated as "[[shaka era]]" ([[Indian national calendar]]), in early [[Bengali alphabet|Bengali script]] which is a combination of [[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]], [[Prakrit language|Prakrit]] and [[Bengali language|Bengali]].<ref name=Trust/>

==Conservation==
[[File:Malooti4.jpg|right|thumb|Square chambered hut type temples in a semi ruined condition]]
The first steps taken to conserve the Maluti temples were taken by an [[NGO]] called "Save Heritage and Environment (SHE)". They approached the [[Global Heritage Fund|Global Heritage Fund (GHF)]] to provide support.

The [[Global Heritage Fund]] (GHF) and the Indian Trust for Rural and Heritage Development instituted a study to prepare plans for the conservation of the Maluti temples. The study identified each temple's conservation details and the threats to the temple structures. The report also indicated the names of international organizations which could provide funds and expertise for such restoration whilst retaining the traditional characteristics of the terracotta tiled sloping roofs of the temples. It recommended that this activity should be carried out by "strengthening the local community through education, awareness and a greater stake in the conservation process".<ref name="Save">{{Cite web|url=http://www.savehe.org/newsletter/ghf-funds-conservation-planning-for-indias-maluti-temples/|title=GHF Funds Conservation Planning for India's Maluti Temples|access-date=7 July 2015|publisher= savehe.org}}</ref>

The GHF has now included the temples and the village among "the world’s twelve vanishing cultural heritage sites". Maluti is the lone representative from India on [[Global Heritage Fund|GHF]]'s list of "the world’s twelve vanishing cultural heritage sites".<ref name=Terra>{{Cite web|url=http://www.maluti.org/maluti-in-news.html|title=Maluti in News: Jharkhand the Hidden Jewel |access-date=7 July 2015|publisher= Department of Tourism, Government of Jharkhand}}</ref><ref name=Sethi>{{Cite news|last=Sethi|first=Atul|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/A-billion-dollar-opportunity/articleshow/7203311.cms|title=A billion dollar opportunity|access-date=7 July 2015|date=2 January 2011|newspaper=The Times of India}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|last= Dutta |first=Sudip |title=Environment Concerns And Perspectives|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mmmw6BoDRBQC&pg=PA284|year=2007|publisher=APH Publishing|isbn=978-81-313-0170-8}}
*{{cite book|last= Jhā |first=Surendra |title=Synthesis of Buddhist Śaiva & Śākta tantras|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MCVAAQAAIAAJ|year= 2009|publisher=Pratibha Prakashan|isbn=978-81-7702-197-4}}

{{Hindu temples in Jharkhand}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Jharkhand]]
[[Category:Dumka district]]

Maluti temples - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 17:55, 29 August 2023