Shantinatha Shiva Temple

22°44′18″N 87°31′08″E / 22.7382°N 87.5189°E / 22.7382; 87.5189ArchitectureTypeNavaratnaCompleted1828

Shantinatha Shiva Temple is a nava-ratna temple, built in 1828 at Mitrasenpur, Chandrakona in Ghatal subdivision of Paschim Medinipur district in West Bengal, India.

Geography

Location

Shantinatha Shiva temple is located at 22°44′18″N 87°31′08″E / 22.7382°N 87.5189°E / 22.7382; 87.5189.

The temple

David J. McCutchion says that the lower structure of the pinnacled or ratna design is a rectangular box with a curved cornice. The roof follows the curvature of the cornice, and “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)”. By increasing the towers or pinnacles to nine (nava-ratna), thirteen, seventeen and twentyone up to a maximum of twentyfive. The ratna style came up in the 15th-16th century. The earliest nava-ratna temples in Midnapore were probably in the Sabang area in the early 18th century. McCutchion classifies the Shantinatha Shiva temple as a West Bengal nava-ratna with ridged turrets. He mentions that at Chandrakona (both at Dakhinbazar and Mitrasenpur), the four lowest turrets are octagonal with curved ridging and the upper five pancha-ratna with straight ridging. Built in 1828, it has rich terracotta and measures 19’ 6” square.^[1]

The Shantinatha Shiva temple, with nine pinnacles, has exquisite terracotta which showcases the Ramayana battles, several scenes from Krishna lila, Bhisma on a bed of arrows, Dasavtar of Vishnu, several musicians etc. Local authorities have renovated the temple using many colours. However, the details of the terracotta relief are still there.^[2]

The Shantinatha Shiva temple is a state protected monument.^[3]

See also - Other temples at Chandrakona: Chandrakona Jorbangla Temple, Malleswara Shiva Temple, Parvatinatha Temple

Shantinatha Shiva temple picture gallery

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References

External links

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Medinipur Sadar subdivision	Garhbeta I Garhbeta II Garhbeta III Keshpur Midnapore Sadar Salboni
Ghatal subdivision	Chandrakona I Chandrakona II Daspur I Daspur II Ghatal
Kharagpur subdivision	Dantan I Dantan II Debra Keshiari Kharagpur I Kharagpur II Mohanpur Narayangarh Pingla Sabang

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