RANI BHAVANI TEMPLES

PANCHANAN SHIVA TEMPLE

- on the Ganga embankment. Small and Red, it has a unique Shivalingam , five heads of Shiva carved on
black stone.

-The temple houses a beautiful garden with a breathtaking riverside view.

CHARBANGLA MANDIR COMPLEX.

-Built in 1760 by Rani Bhabani, this is a small square arena fenced by four massive temples.

It is a cluster of four temples on raised platforms forming an inner courtyard. ‘Char Bangla’ indicate
the number of structures that were built in the form of a typical Bengal village. Char (four in Bengali)
means there are four houses.

Each one is build on a 1.5ft high foundation and is dochala hut-shaped.

Char Bangla has four temples which encloses a small courtyard, which were built by Rani Bhavani of
Natore. Each temple has 3 arched openings and 3 shiva lingas.

Richly decorated their facades illustrate the beautiful art and culture of the brick work at Bengal. It is
said that the decorative beautiful arts have been influenced by the Epics and Puranas.

The Northern and the Western temple are most exquisitely decorated with terracotta.
The eastern temple is decorated with lime and mortar reliefs.
Three temples except the northern one have a common platform while the northern temple is built on a
separate platform behind another old building which perhaps served as the kachari bari or
administrative wing of Rani Bhabani.

another temple build by Tarasundari , Daughter of Rani Bhabani, is in a sorry state. Legends said it that
Siraj-ud-Daullah tried to abduct Tarasundari. She was suffering from chicken pox at that time and Siraj
got scared and fled. Tarasundari cured overnight. Considering this to be divine intervention, she built
THE GOPAL TEMPLE.

GANGESHWAR, ALSO KNOWN AS JORBANGLA TEMPLE.

-Small but marvelous, it is in terrotta. Dragons, dancing girls, fighting elephants and floral designs
decorated the walls.
-A Shivalingam, known as Kasturishar Shiva, is inside, established by Kasturi Devi, mother of Rani
Bhabani.

BHABANISWAR TEMPLE

-is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Baranagar Village in Murshidabad Jiaganj Tehsil in
Murshidabad District in the state of West Bengal, India. The temple is situated on the banks of Hooghly
River. The temple has been classified as a Monument of National Importance by the Archaeological
Survey of India (ASI)

This temple is the tallest lime and mortar temple at Baranagar. The temple is about 18 meters tall. The
temple is octagonal in shape and its dome (roof) looks like an inverted lotus. It has a corridor with
sloping roof around the inner sanctum and is decorated with large floral motifs. The façade is decorated
with human figurines, but the artwork seems to be average in terms of workmanship.

JAIN TEMPLES:

SRI NEMINATH SWAMI,

The Neminath Bhagwan Jinalay, close to the Bhagirathi river, built in Samvat 1943 is one of the most
beautiful Jain temples in Azimganj. The temple's architecture stands out whith its 3 shikhara's and
french style windows. The temple houses beautiful idols of the lord and is one of the best maintained in
the town. The temple has been constructed in such a way that the outer Rangmandap receives sunlight
glittering the entire temple. Sanctorum houses the Parikar-yukt pratimajis of Shri Neminath Bhagwan,
Shri Parshwanath and Shri Mahavir Swami in a beautiful marble mandap.

CHINTAMANI PARASNATH,

Shri Chintamani Parshwanath Jinalay was built in 1888 AD by the Manhot family. The idols brought in
here are around 500 years old. The gates and statues in the temple are made of "Kasauti Pathar"- 'touch
stone'( which was used to test the purity of gold). Also this temple is home to many beautiful idols made
of various gemstones, many of them stolen in recent times. The temple has lost its glory due to passage
of time and lack of maintenance. A single pujari takes care of hundreds of pratimaji's with meager
resources. There are hundreds of Panch Dhatu idols in the temple which have been preserved well.

SHRI SUMTINATHJI JINALAY –

was built in 1856 AD by Uttam Chandji Nahar and was rebuilt by Setab Chandji Nahar in 1897 AD. The
temple lacks maintenance and the ancient artifacts stored here -rock cut inscriptions and carvings
gather dust.

Ancient Carvings from Stupas

SHRI SAMBHAVNATHJI JINALAY built in 1886 AD by Rai Dhanpat Singhji Dugar is the largest temple in
the town. The towering idol of Shri Sambhavnath Bhagwan leaves one mesmerized! Around 60 kms of
railway tracks were built by Shri Dhanpat Singh Dugar to carry this huge Pratima ji from Nalhati to
Azimganj.

SHRI SAWALIA PARSHWANATH BHAGWAN JINALAY, Shri Godi Parshwanath Bhagwan and Dadawari in
the Rambagh area was built in 1870 AD This temple complex also houses statues from Jangipur, Kiaganj
and Cossimbazar. The dadawadi houses sphatik charan paduka of Dada Gurudev.

Across the river, the temples at Jiyaganj are dedicated to SHRI VIMALNATH BHAGWAN, SHRI
SAMBHAVNATH BHAGWAN AND SHRI ADINATH BHAGWAN.

Near to the twin towns lies the Kathgola Tirth built by Rai Laxmipat Singh Bahadoor Dugar in the 19th
century who belonged to the family of Jagat Seths. The place is called Kathgola as it was once famous for
its wooden colored roses : Kasht (wood) & Golap (Rose).

The family of the Jagat Seths were devout Jains and came to prominence for the vast wealth they
accumulated as the Nawab's bankers. It was during the rule of Siraj ud Daulah the then Jagat Seth
played a pivotal role together with Siraj's maternal uncle Mir Jafar, Umichand and Rai Durlabh in the
determining the outcome of the battle of Plassey in 1757. At Plassey, Robert Clive, commanding a troop
of 400 ri􀀁emen of the East India Company defeated the forces of an utterly debauched and degenerate
Siraj ud Daulah defeated the forces of an utterly debauched and degenerate Siraj ud Daulah.

The temple dedicated to the 􀀀rst tirthankara, SHRI ADINATH BHAGWAN is built in an area covering 30
acres. The gardens, ponds, marble gazebos and statuettes enhance the beauty of this temple. Close to
the temple lies the palace of Jagat Seths which has been converted into a museum.

In the all above Palaces/buildings/Temple mortar was used : lime and ground bricks “Surki” & lime :
Collected from burnt water Shells. No Cement was used, cement was not invented that time but the
strength and durability of the mortar is unquestionable since it is sill strong through the ages.
Particularly plaster made of lime and sand is unquestionably marvelous with the surface layer called
“Ponch” ( Ponch : A Miraculous solution made of shell-lime mixed with ample quatity of Egg yolk and
some other costly ingredients) is still refulgent and durable through the Century without any retouch or
refurbishment.

Architecture style:

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