Wednesday, 13 April 2016

A LONE TERROCOTTA TEMPLE AT AMDIHA.


A news, published in the Telegraph on 21.03.2016 under heading “Maluti Cousin at Bokaro” detailing one Terracotta Temple at Amdiha, Block- Chandankiyari, District- Bokaro, Jharkhand.

After reading, we have been to the place. Result- the following photographes-one temple which is beyond any restoration and other one urgently needs  its overdue restoration.

The temples are without any idol. Some small murals are worshipped in the residence of Mr. Rabindranath Goswami in adjacent village. They were the priest family for these temples. Goswamis has heard there was idol three generation back but current generation is not aware of any other idols barring those murals which are regularly worshipped in their residence.


As per the Telegraph news, this particular temple discovered by Mr. Harendra Prasad Sinha, eminent archaeologist and retired deputy director (archaeology) of the state art and culture department, Jharkhand.


Mr. Sinha noted a striking similarity of the terracotta works of Amdiha with Temple town of Maluti, Block-Sikaripara, District-Dumka (170 km from Amdiha). His reference were from the striking similarities- Bishnupur-style terracotta carvings with scenes from Ramayana along with floral designs of the walls, high arches and stone engravings in proto-Bangla script.


From the incredible likeness, Mr. Sinha inferred that the same family of architects had constructed the Maluti temples over a period of 200 years, beginning 17th Century, as well as the terracotta shrine in Amdiha.


We would like to draw kind attention of our readers to a nearby village in West Bengal, Cheliyama (crow fly distance from Amdiha 11 km). As per the Government Web Site of Puruliya District  the information about this particular temple is :


“ The village contains the temple most richly decorated with terracotta’s in Purulia district and one of the few surviving from the 17th century in West Bengal. The temple of Radha-Vinod, dated sakabda 1619 has a contemporary terracotta plaque in Bengali. In the panels above the archways are depicted Krishnalila scenes. There is also scene like Rama comforting with Ravana in two huge war chariots with monkeys and demons joining the fray. A series of smaller panels rising on the left and right and continuing across the top includes the avatars of Vishnu, the other deities as well as devotees. Along the base on the left ran the usual Krishnalila frieze, and on the right (much less common) a Ramayan frieze. Beneath them is  another frieze of professional and hunting scene. The base and the column panels of the facade are already badly worn  but the panels above the archways are in excellent condition.”



Is there a common thread between all three locations ?
We are eager to have the comment of archaeological experts in this regard.

              75629.jsp#.VvpLqWNXrlu.
              http://purulia.gov.in/tourntravel/tour archeo.html.


 Research & Picture Courtesy - Abhijnan Basu.

No comments: