history, sculpture and culture of raghunath jew temple of

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( Received 24 March 2020; Accepted 15 April 2020; Date of Publication 16 April 2020 )

WSN 144 (2020) 397-413 EISSN 2392-2192

History, Sculpture and Culture of Raghunath Jew Temple of Raghunath Bari, East Midnapore, India

- A Photographic Essay

Prakash Samanta1, Pijus Kanti Samanta2,*

1Department of Environmental Science, Directorate of Distance Education, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal, India

2Department of Physics (PG & UG), Prabhat Kumar College, Contai - 721404, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India

*E-mail address: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Among the old temples which are under the Kashijora Pargana, Raghunath Jew temple (also

known as Thakurbari) is very remarkable for its sculpture and culture of seventeenth century. This is a

very old temple in the worship of Goddess Rama-Sita. The temple is a unique with its ancient

constructions, and sculpture in its walls, and columns. A festival in the worship of lord Rama is held

every year on Dashera and runs over a month. People of all community, caste and culture assemble in

this festival. This festival also helps to develop the economy of not only the temple authority but also

the people of the surrounding villages. The Ratha (Chariot), which runs in the day of Dashera, is very

unique in the entire Midnapore district. It is made up of wood and contains several sculptural designs.

Although there is as such no detailed historical record of this temple but still it is silently preserving the

culture of the ancient Bengal over last three centuries.

Keywords: Kashijora Pargana, Temple, Chariot, Archaeology, Bengal

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World Scientific News 144 (2020) 397-413

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1. INTRODUCTION

West Bengal is very famous for its variety of temples scattered throughout the states

manifesting the culture and life of the people of that era. Besides, the temples are also the pillar

of sculpture of the architect. Terracotta sculpture is very famous and frequently observed in

different parts of south Bengal especially in Bishnupur [1-4]. Besides, there are also different

types of temples that bears some signature of Orissa and southern part of India [5-10]. Some

temples again have their own regional type construction and design. Raghunathbari, named

after God Raghunath Jew, is located in Panskura-1 block of the historically famous Tamluk

(historically known as Tamralipta) subdivision of Purba Medinipur district in West Bengal. It

is connected to railway through Raghunathbari railway station. It is about 7.5 km away from

the Panskura railway station and about 20 km from its district head quarter Tamluk (the

historical place Tamralipta). This village can be accessed from Panskura railway junction over

state highway (SH-4) passing by 1 km. It can also be accessed from Tamluk via the same state

highway and also via railway from Sahid-Matangini and Tamluk railway station of S. E.

Railway. According to the census report of 2011, the village has a population of 2,091 out of

which 1022 are female. There are 461 households in the village. It has an area of 47.68 hector

out of which about 40% land is used for cultivation. There is one primary school and a century

old high school established in 1917. This clearly indicates that it was a Centre of Excellence of

culture and higher education since the British India [11].

2. HISTORY OF ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TEMPLE

The temple (also called Thakurbari) of Raghunathbari is located in the heart of the village

spreading over 1 acre of land full of greeneries. Kashijora porgana (estate) was one of the most

developed estates of British India with its excellent agriculture, education and social culture of

the ancient Bengal. Historical notes revealed that Kashijora porgana was constituted with 660

villages of seven police stations of undivided Midnapore district. It has been evident from

several ancient documents that the king of Puri donated the Kashijora porgana to Ganga

Narayan Roy. Ganganarayan ruled over the Kashijora estate during 1573 to 1586 AD. He was

Kshatriya. After his death his Cousin’s son Jamini Vanu Roy continued to rule over this pargana

and established a village Sura. There he established a large pond Jamini Dighi or Janu Dighi in

his name. Jamini Vanu Roy died on 1624 and his son Pratapnarayan Roy continued to rule.

During this time Pratapnarayan established Pratapur village with Harashankar as the capital of

his estate.

After his death in 1660, his son Harinarayan acquired the pargana and worshiped the deity

of Krishnaroy. In 1669, Laxminarayan became the head of the pargana after the ceasing of

Harinarayan. During his period, he was unable to collect the taxes to pay the Nawab and forced

to adopt the Islam. He also established a Mosque at Chanchiyara. His son also followed the

Islamic and died on 1720. Jitnarayan Roy, the immediate successor adopted Sikha religion and

established a temple of Shree Jagannath at Sangat. A large pond was digged out and was named

Jitsagar in his own name. In 1744, after his diminishion, Naranarayan Roy became the only

successor. He continued to rule Kashijora till 1726. Then Rajnarayan Roy became the ruler of

Kashijora and established the Raghunathbari. He also established the Thakurbari with the deity

of Raghunath Jew. The worshipper of Lord Rama is usually found in northern part of India [12,


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13] where as Hanumana temples are mostly in southern part of India and is in northern India to

some extent [14-17]. But why Rajnarayan Roy established Rama Temple is still a controversy.

3. THE TEMPLE AND THE BUILDINGS

The Thakurbari has a main temple of Raghunath Jew at about 1.5-meter height. There is

another small temple of Hanuman Jew just opposite to the main temple within the Thakurbari

area. The deity Raghunath Jew is basically the idol of Rama and Sita along with Laxmana,

Bharata, Bibhisona, Angada, Sugriba and Hanuman. All these idols are made of composites of

eight metals and still have metallic lusture without any loss. There is a gate to enter into the

main temple. It is a uniquely designed wooden work. There is a large bell just on the top of the

ceiling. People used to sound this bell while entering into the temple.

Figure 1. Front gate of the temple after renovation work.

Figure 2. Wach Tower beside the Front gate of the temple.


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Figure 3. All the idols of the Temple.

Figure 4. The idols of Rama and Sita.


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Figure 5. The Hanuman temple inside the Thakurbari premises.

Figure 6. The entrance door of the temple and the bell.


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Stone-made temples are very rare in Bengal may be due to unavailability of stones in this

part of the country [1, 2, 4]. Most of the temples of Bengal are mostly made of burnt red bricks

of mud, and carbonate cement. Only a very limited use of stones is observed. Raghunathbari

Rama temple is also not an exception of that. The ceilings are also made of red-bricks, mud,

and carbonate cement supported over iron-beam. At present most of the walls and ceilings are

damages due to its age and lack of maintenance. The columns are made of rust-free iron with

full of sculpture reflecting the technological and sculptural knowledge of the architects and

worker of that time [18].

Figure 7. The open corridor inside the Thakurbari.

There is a separate kitchen (known as Rondhonsala) where the holy Mahaprasad (locally

known as thakur vog) is cooked every day. There is a deep well which was used as the source

of cooking and drinking water. The well is about 40 ft deep. The side-wall of the well is

surrounded by burnt mud made rings (locally called Beri). However, it is non-functional since

last ten years. There is a large pond (known as Ramsagar) in the south side of the temple and

outside the boundary wall of the Thakurbari.

The pond is about 100' × 100' and 30 ft deep. Underground stairs pond from the interior

of the temple is used to access the pond. A small stair-like architecture is there within the

Thakurbari, known as the bath place of the idols. During the eve of Ramanavami, the idols are

drenched with 108 kolsi (a special shaped metal made pot for storing water) of water with the


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chant of holy Māntrā. This Ramnavami is very famous in entire India [19]. There is a small

building in the south east corner of the Thakurbari comprising of rest rooms and waiting rooms.

Figure 8. The outside open corridor of Thakurbari.

Figure 9. Stairs for going to 1st floor of the Thakurbari building located in the north and

south-east side respectively.


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Figure 10. Part of the ruined boundary wall of the temple.

Figure 12. Some broken stones of the temple.


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Figure 12. Kitchen of the Temple.

Figure 13. Sil-Nora used to paste spices.


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Figure 14. The well used as the source of water.

Figure 15. The Ramsagara and the underground stair to acces the pond.


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Figure 16. The bath place of the idols.

Figure 17. Building for Mohanta’s rest room, waiting room and other office rooms

of Thakurbari.


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Figure 18. The outside open corridor of Thakurbari and design in the column.

Figure 19. Sculpture on the Iron made Column and railings of the north corridor

on the 1st floor


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Figure 20. Cement sculpture of Thakurbari.

Figure 21. The Fiteh Khan canon.


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Several wooden and cement sculptures are found in the walls of the building. There is a

canon (Kaman), called Fiteh Khan Kaman, about 8 ft 2 inches long which at present is a very

important archive of the history and sculpture of ancient India [18, 20, 21].

4. THE CHARIOT AND THE FESTIVAL

There is a Chariot (locally called- Ratha) (a tall sculpture made of wood) which is very

famous in the entire Midnapore district. It was designed and constructed by several sculptural

carpenters of China. It is 4 storied architecture with 16 iron wheels in the base for its rolling.

However due to lack of fund and maintenance, the Ratha became very ruined. It was renovated

and painted by few Chinese architect in 2016. The festival (mela) is very famous in the district.

Its stars on the Dashera and continues for a month and ends after the Kali puja (worshiping of

Maa Kali). Varieties of items, utensils, stationary, foods, garments, and other daily need item

shops gather altogether in the festival.

Figure 22. The tall Chariot and its wooden sculpture.

The main attraction is the varieties of straw made mats with wonderful designs which are

very famous in the entire Midnapore district. Peoples from Maguri, and Sabang come here to

sell the mats another popular and famous item is fishing net of wide variety and design that are


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sold here. People of the surrounding villages and over the entire district comes together to attend

this festival. This festival has become a place of harmony, peace and cultural unity of Bengal

and of course plays an important role in the economy of the local people.

Figure 23. The Small Chariot and its ruined wooden sculpture.

Figure 24. The bundled rope to pull the Chariot during festival.


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5. CONCLUSIONS

The Raghunath Jew temple of Raghunathbari plays an important role in the prevailing the

history of the cultural and ritual status of the Bengal of 17th century. It also helped the

surrounding society to develop its culture and economy through its various religious activities.

The Chariot is very famous and brings people of different culture and religion to meet together

and promotes unity in diversity of social, religious and cultural status. However, the temple is

now getting ruined due to lack of funding which needs keen attention to preserve such a cultural

and religious heritage temple.

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