Bishnupur (West Bengal)

Overview

Bishnupur is a town and a municipality in the Bankura district of the Indian state of West Bengal. Historically the capital of the Malla kings who ruled the region for nearly a millennium, the town is renowned for its terracotta temples, the classical Bishnupur gharana of Hindustani music, and the production of Baluchari sarees. It serves as the headquarters of the Bishnupur subdivision.

Key Facts

Geography

Bishnupur lies in the southern part of the Bankura district, in the laterite-rich Rarh tract of West Bengal. The terrain is gently undulating, with red lateritic soil interspersed with paddy fields and a network of artificial reservoirs (locally called bandhs) constructed by the Malla rulers for water supply and defence. The town is connected by the South Eastern Railway and by state highways to Bankura, Durgapur and Kolkata.

History

Bishnupur was the seat of the Malla dynasty, whose rule traditionally dates from the 7th century CE, although the kingdom rose to prominence between the 16th and 18th centuries. The Malla kings, particularly Bir Hambir and his successors Raghunath Singha and Bir Singha, were patrons of Vaishnavism after Bir Hambir's conversion under the influence of Srinivasa Acharya, a follower of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. This religious shift triggered an extensive temple-building programme using locally available laterite, brick and terracotta.

After the decline of Malla power in the 18th century, the territory passed under the Maharaja of Burdwan and subsequently came under British administration following the grant of the Diwani of Bengal to the East India Company in 1765. Bishnupur lost its political pre-eminence but retained its cultural identity through its temples, music and crafts.

Timeline

• Early medieval period: Foundation of the Malla kingdom centred on Bishnupur (traditional dating from 694 CE).
• 16th–17th centuries: Adoption of Vaishnavism by the Malla court and rapid growth of temple construction.
• 17th–18th centuries: Construction of major temples including the Rasmancha, Jor Bangla, Shyam Rai and Madan Mohan temples.
• 18th century: Decline of Malla rule; absorption into the Burdwan Raj and later under British rule.
• 20th century: Several Bishnupur monuments declared as protected sites by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Architecture and Monuments

Bishnupur is best known for its terracotta temples, which combine the traditional Bengali chala and ratna styles with intricate terracotta panels depicting episodes from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Bhagavata Purana, as well as scenes of contemporary life.

• Rasmancha: A pyramidal brick structure built by Bir Hambir, used during the Ras festival to display the deities of the town's temples.
• Jor Bangla Temple (Keshta Rai): Built by Raghunath Singha in 1655, an example of the twin-hut do-chala form.
• Shyam Rai Temple: A pancharatna (five-pinnacled) temple constructed in 1643 by Raghunath Singha, noted for its dense terracotta ornamentation.
• Madan Mohan Temple: An ekaratna temple built in 1694 by Durjana Singha Deva.
• Lalji, Radha Shyam, Madan Gopal and Kalachand temples: Other significant shrines, mostly in laterite or brick.
• Dalmadal Cannon: A large iron cannon associated with Malla defence against Maratha (Bargi) raids in the 18th century.

Culture

Bishnupur Gharana

The Bishnupur gharana is one of the principal schools of Hindustani classical music in e