Kalna Pratapeswar Temple, West Bengal

Address

Kalna Pratapeswar Temple, Kalna, Bardhaman district West Bengal 713409

Diety

Pratapeswar

Introduction

Pratapeswar Temple, situated within the Rajbari compound in Kalna in Bardhaman district, West Bengal. Pratapeshwar temple is located within the same premises and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Smaller in size and built in 1849, the temple is raised on a high platform and is one of the finest specimen of the single tower shikhara style temple in Kalna, Which in ruins. The temple has four arched doorways, one of which provides entry to the sanctum.

Puranic Significance

The late medieval period, it was built in 1849 by Maharani Shiyari Kumari. She was the wife of Maharaja Pratap Chand of Bardhaman in the town Kalna situated on the banks of river Bhagirathi. Pratapeswar Temple is in the prestigious list of temples in India made by a woman. Terracotta Artwork on Pratapeshwar Temple, displaying the battle of Ramayana with Goddess Durga in the centre as “Mahishashurmardni. Pratapeshwar temple that was built in rekha style (common in Odisha) in 1849 by Ramhari Mistri under the supervision of Pearykumari Devi, first wife of Raja Pratapchand. Pratapeshwar temple has terracotta works on its four walls. The panel walls containing the battle of Rama and Ravana with Goddess Durga in the centre, Rama as king of Ayodhya with Sita seating beside him, the various episodes of Krishnalila. So are the terracotta plaques on all the outer walls of the temple as well as in its inner sanctum. The roof is made in the style of ridged rekha duel style, which is popularly known as Bishnupur-Bardhaman style. The Rajbari complex temples were built at different periods by Kings of Burdwan and their family members. After their family premises and temples at Dainhat got destroyed due to Bargi attack, the rulers chose a safe place to build the temple. Rajbari Complex are under the management of the ASI as they are protected monuments.