The temples of Ukhra, West Bengal

By dr.asiskchatterji

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The Ramchandra Jiu temple with Ras Mancha (on the left) & Dol Mancha (on the right)

The Ramchandra Jiu temple

The triple entrance of the Ramchandra Jiu temple

Close up of the triple entrance of the Ramchandra Jiu temple

The idols of Rama & Sita with Lakshman & Bharata . Hanuman -ji is also there.

The Ramchandra Jiu temple

The Gopinath Jiu temple 1

The Gopinath Jiu temple 2

Naat Mandir of The Gopinath Jiu temple

Terracotta figure (? of a musician) from Jora Shiva Temple at Ukhra Durgabaari 1

Facade of a Shiva temple at Ukhra Durgabaari

Terracotta figure (? of Matsyavatar -- the Fish Avatar of Lord Vishnu) from Jora Shiva Temple at Ukhra Durgabaari

Terracotta figure ( of Lord Krishna with a flute) from Jora Shiva Temple at Ukhra Durgabaari

Terracotta figure ( of Lord Krishna & His divine consort Radha) from Jora Shiva Temple at Ukhra Durgabaari

Terracotta figure from Jora Shiva Temple at Ukhra Durgabaari 2

Terracotta figure (? of Lord Narayana) from Jora Shiva Temple at Ukhra Durgabaari

Terracotta figure from Jora Shiva Temple at Ukhra Durgabaari

Terracotta figure (with a spade or plough) from Jora Shiva Temple at Ukhra Durgabaari

Terracotta figure ( of Lord Krishna with a flute) from Jora Shiva Temple at Ukhra Durgabaari 1

Terracotta figure ( of a deity on tiger back --- ? Jagatdhaatri) from Jora Shiva Temple at Ukhra Durgabaari

Terracotta figure ( of Kurmavatar --- the Turtle Avatar of Lord Vishnu) from Jora Shiva Temple at Ukhra Durgabaari

Terracotta panel on the facade of Jora Shiva Temple at Ukhra Durgabaari 1

Terracotta panel on the facade of Jora Shiva Temple at Ukhra Durgabaari 2

Terracotta figure (of Lord Narayana ?) from Jora Shiva Temple at Ukhra Durgabaari

Terracotta figure from Jora Shiva Temple at Ukhra Durgabaari

The twin (Jora) Shiva Temples at Ukhra Durgabaari

One of the twin (Jora) Shiva Temples at Ukhra Durgabaari

Panel on the facade of one of the twin (Jora) Shiva Temples at Ukhra Durgabaari

Terracotta figure ( of a musician?) from Jora Shiva Temple at Ukhra Durgabaari

Decorations on corner projection in the Chatterjees' Vishnu temple at Ukhra

Decorations on the triple entrance of the Chatterjees' Vishnu temple at Ukhra

The Chatterjees' Vishnu temple at Ukhra --- a 250 years old flat-roofed (Dalan type) temple made of laterite.

Rasmancha of Mohanta Asthal, Ukhra

The sanctum sanctorum of Mohanta Asthal temple, Ukhra

The idols inside Mohanta Asthal temple, Ukhra

Decorated pillar, Mohanta Asthal temple, Ukhra

The priest of the Mohanta Asthal temple, Ukhra

Mohanta Asthal temple, Ukhra, with Tinu & Bhramar Bakshi, who immensely helped me in this trip. Thanks a lot, Bakshis!

Mohanta Asthal temple, Ukhra

Durga Mandir of Handa family, Ukhra

Decoration on Wooden door of Nilkantha Shiva temple, Ukhra

The Shuiva Lingam in the Nilkantha Shiva temple at Ukhra, said to be 500 years old. However, the old temple is being replaced by a new one, which is under construction.

UKHRA

It is a small town about 14 km from Durgapur; 7 km from Andal mor at NH-2 in the district of Bardhaman, West Bengal.
The Zamindars or landlords of Ukhra , the Lal Singha Handa family, originally came from from Lahore, west Punjab, now in Pakistan. The first family-head Kebal Ram migrated first to Murshidabad, the then capital of Bengal about 250 years back; later the family settled in Ukhra (previously Shergar). After him Ramchandra & then Meruchandra was the Raja of Ukhra. Bishan Kumari, daughter of Meruchandra was married to Maharaj Trilok Chand of Burdwan. Bishan Kumari established the famous 109 Shiva temples of Nawab Hat in Burdwan.
Temples of Ukhra :

1. Jora Shiva temple : This pair of small laterite temples are of the same type à Tightly ridged Rekha temple with terracotta façade & single entrance of the 19^th century Birbhum-Bardhaman style; established by the Handa family in 1836. The terracotta work is rather crude, but extensive. Of the identifiable figures, prominent ones are of Matsyavatar , Kurmavatar, Vamanavatar (of Vishnu), Krisna with His flute, Krishna with Radha, Chaturvuj Narayan, A figure with a plough (? Balaram) & some other unidentifiable figures.

2. RamChandra Jiu temple : A big Pancha ratna (5 pinnacled) laterite built temple with RasMancha & Dol Manchaof Vishnupur style, this temple was established by Meruchandra Handa in 1739 AD. With triple entrance, this temple has minimal stucco work & the most beautiful idols of Lord Rama with Sita, Lakshjman, Bharat & Hanuman. The temple has been recently painted a rather loud orange!

3. Gopinath Jiu temple : Situated by the side of Ram Chandra temple in the same complex, this dalan (flat roofed) type of temple was established in 1801 AD by Baktar Singh Handa. Again a big temple with Naat Mandir & Bhog Mandir, this temple is also very loudly colored.

4. Mahanta Asthal Vrindavan Chandra temple : Established by the Mahantas of Nimbark clan, this huge temple complex has a 9 pinnacled Rasmancha (again orange!) & an unusually green-colored big main temple . The main temple is Dalan (flat roofed) type, with 9 small pinnacles on top of a roof which is traditional KHILAN type . Inside the sanctum sanctorum, there are a large no. of Narayan Shilas ( sacred stones which are regarded as symbol of Lord Vishnu) along with the deities. The main temple is >250 yrs old.

5. Ukhra Chatterjees’ Vishnu temple : A medium sized laterite temple with flat roof & triple entrance. Almost hidden in a maze of narrow lanes, this old temple was shown to us by an enthusiastic local lad Nirmal Banerjee.

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