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Bengal temple architecture also known asMalla dynasty architecture[1][2][3] is about temple styles developed and used in Bengal, particularly the deul,chala,ratna anddalan temples.[4]
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Both eoigraphic evidences and literary sources hint at the existence of numerous temples in Bengal.[5] Foreign travellers likeFa Hien,Hiuen Tsang noticed a large number of monasteries, temples and stupas in different parts of Bengal.[5]
According toDavid J. McCutchion historically the religious architecture in Bengal may be divided into three periods: the early Hindu period dominated by thePala &Sena dynasties (up to the end of the 12th century, or may be a little later in certain areas), theSultanate period (14th to early 16th century), and the Hindu revival period beginning with theMughal conquest (16th to 19th century). "Thecoming of the Muslims at the beginning of the 13th century marked a sharp break with the past. After an initial century or so of anarchy and consolidation ... Bengal as we know it today became an independent entity for the first time. During the following two centuries a distinctive Bengali culture took shape".[6]
"Between the earlier and later Hindu periods astonishing religious changes took place in Bengal: the worship ofVishnu gave way to that ofRadha Krishna ofChamunda to that ofKali;Surya fell entirely out of favour; curious folk cults like that ofDharmathakur orDakshin Rai arose." The temples of pre-Muslim period can be called tall curvilinear rekha deul.[7]Another equally common group of temples found in Pre-Mughal Bengal are temples with tiered pyramidal tower can be described as pirha or bhadra deul.[7]During the earlier and later Hindu period the religious changes in Bengal introduced some changes in the temple architecture.[7]In their places of the other temple styles two completely new styles developed - hut style and the pinnacled style.[7]
Therekha deul was the predominant form of temple architecture in Bengal during the pre Islamic period.[7] According to David J. McCutchion, this type of temple achieved its standard initial form in central India and was spreaded to different places which included Bengal.[8] The features of this type temple are "smooth curvilinear" and "ridged curvilinear."[9] In the smooth type, thesikhara is free of horizontal bars and in ridged type, it is closely ridged with bars. Theratha projections are generally deep and spaced, and sometimes decorated. The crowningamalaka is generally large and flat. There are large and small types of deuls. Many of the very small types dispense with the complicated styling. It went on developing from the late 7 th century or early 8 th century to around the 19 th century, increasing its complexity and height but retaining its basic features.[1][10]
Theek-bangla ordo-chala consists of a brick-built structure resembling rural mud huts with two sloping roofs, resembling thatched straw roofs of Bengali villages. The stone temple at Garui in Bardhaman district of West Bengal, built in the 14th century, has a Bengal hut shaped roof.[11] Two huts, one forming aporch in front and the other being the shrine at the back constitutes thejor-bangla design – "Bengal's most distinctive contribution to temple architecture".[7][12]
In West Bengal, the hut roof generally has four sides and thechar-chala temple is built on this model. If a miniature duplicate is built on the roof, it becomes anat-chala. Thechar-chala temple form was well established by the 16 th -17 th century.[12] Perhaps the earliest char chala temple in Bengal dates back to 15 th century.[12]
The curved roof of aratna temple "is surmounted by one or more towers or pinnacles calledratna (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 twenty-five. Theratna style was developed in 16th-17th century in Bengal .[13]
"Ratna style temples are the composite type of architecture... The lower part of the temple has all the features of the curved cornices and a short pointed spire crowns the roof and this will be adorned with the introduction ofratnas or kiosks."[14]
The flat-roofed temples or dalan temples came up in 19th century.[15]It combined the use of barrel vaults introduced during Islamic rule with native usage of horse-shoe shaped curved arches. In the long run, this style lost its special identity as religious architecture and got mixed up with domestic architecture.[16]
In eastern Bengal (present dayBangladesh), the rekha deul style evolved during the late Mughal era into a distinct style calledshikhari (colloquially calledmath), characterised by an octagonal bases bearing the curvilinear chalas supporting a tapering pyramidal sikhara. In some cases the octagonal base of the pyramidal sikhara might be placed upon a traditional four-cornerned base. This change is believed to have occurred under the influence ofMughal architecture.[1][17][18]
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Temples of identical style and size are sometimes grouped together. Two identical Shiva temples are called a Jora Shiva temple. Groups of four, six and twelve Shiva temples are quite popular. The most elaborate groups existing have 108 Shiva temples.[19][self-published source]
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{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)McCutchion, David J. (1972).Late Mediaeval Temples of Bengal: Origins and Classification. Asiatic Society.
