Radha Shyam Temple Explained

Radha Shyam Temple
Native Name:রাধাশ্যাম মন্দির
Native Name Lang:bn
Religious Affiliation:Hinduism
Deity:Radha Shyam (Divine couple in Hinduism)
Location:Bishnupur
District:Bankura
State:West Bengal
Country:India
Coordinates:23.0725°N 87.3264°W
Architecture Type:Bengal temple architecture
Architecture Style:eka-ratna style
Founded By:Chaitanya Singh
Facade Direction:South
Length:12.5m (41feet)
Width:12.5m (41feet)
Height Max:10.7m (35.1feet)

Radha Shyam Temple or Rādhāśyāma mandir is a Krishna temple in Bishnupur town of Medinipur division in Indian state of West Bengal. In this temple, the Hindu god Krishna is worshiped in the form of Shyam; along with Shyam, the murti of Radha is also worshipped. According to the foundation plaque found in the temple, the temple was founded in 1758 by King Chaitanya Singh of Mallabhum.[1] The temple is a unique example of eka-ratna temple architecture, which belongs to the ratna style developed in medieval Bengal.

The roof of this temple is square and curved, with curved edges and a domed shikhar (tower) in the middle. The temple is known for its ornamentation, which adorns the surrounding walls of this temple. The ornamentations are mainly placed on terracotta plaques set into the walls. The walls of the temple are decorated with scenes from the Ramayana, Anantasayin Vishnu and widely recurring figures of Radha-Krishna.

Currently the temple is preserved as one of the archeological monuments by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. News: Chakraborty . Shantanu . Mallabhūma biṣṇupura . bn:মল্লভূম বিষ্ণুপুর . Mallabhum Bishnupur . 13 March 2024 . www.anandabazar.com . ABP . 18 January 2018 . bn.