Temples of Bishnupur: A Visual Journey

Contents: Foreword. 1. Introduction 2. Temples of Bishnupur, Architectural Relevance, Decoration, Terracotta Temples, Stone Temples. 3. Stone Structures. 4. Dilapidated Temples and Structures. 5. Building Material. 6. Construction Technique. Discussion. Bibliography. Visual Journey.

The temple city of Bishnupur in the district of Bankura, West Bengal, is famous for its magnificent ancient terracotta and stone temples. In the medieval period Bishnupur was the seat of Malla dynasty that ruled the territory of Mallabhum over 1100 years till 19th century. The period of Malla ruling earned fame because of its glorious contribution in the fields of art, music, architecture and religious devotion. Bishnupur tells a story intermingling with history and myth. There are innumerable temples scattered all over the town, built between sixteenth to eighteenth-century A.D.; some are brick-built, ornamented with terracotta tiles; some are stone-built with artistic curving; each one depicts the brilliance of artistry. Most of these temples are dedicated to Lord Krishna, the epitome of Vaishnavism. Bir Hambir, the 49th Malla king embraced Vaishnavism from Srinivas Acharya, the torch bearer of Gauriya Vaisnavism, founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The ancient temples of Bishnupur not only reflect the religious devotion and prosperity of the Malla kings but also the brilliance of their artistic and aesthetic sensitivity. The temple architecture of Bishnupur shows a unique style originated through the admixture of a number of cultural traditions.

This volume intends to present the historicity and artistic brilliance of this temple city, a glorious cultural centre of medieval Bengal. The visual documentation of the marvels of artistry is an additional treasure for this volume.