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.
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