Siddheshwara Temple at Bahulara
Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/RKsflveXypU
Reference:
https://kevinstandagephotography.wordpress.com/2023/03/01/siddheswar-temple-bahulara/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahulara_Ancient_Temple
The Siddheshwara Temple at Bahulara in Bankura, West Bengal,
is a10th–11th century CE brick temple, considered one of the finest
and tallest (19m) examples of the rekha
deul style in Bengal. Located near the Dwarakeswar River, this
West-facing temple features intricate cut-brick and stucco carvings, a high
platform, and houses idols of Shiva, Ganesha, and Jain Tirthankar Parshvanatha.
Bahulara village is in the Onda II village panchayat, in
the Onda CD
block in the Bankura
Sadar subdivision of the Bankura district in
the Indian state of West Bengal.
This lofty brick temple reaching a height of 19m rests on a
high platform, and is noted for its rich and intricate carvings on the exterior
walls.
In terms of decoration and architectural design, the
west-facing temple has a strong affinity with the temples of Odisha, with some
of the original plaster still surviving that would have once covered the temple
exterior. This plaster work is considered contemporary and part of the original
temple design, as it mirrors the brick ornamentation beneath. To the south of
the temple lies a cluster of brick built foundations, looking suspiciously like
Buddhist stupa and Chaitya platforms.
The sanctum today enshrines a Shiva linga, behind which are
images of Gaṇesha, Tirthankara Parsvanatha, and Mahisasuramardini. So it would
appear in addition to evidence of Buddhism at this site there has also been a
Jain influence at some point.
It is quite possible that this temple was originally built as
a Jain/Buddhist shrine and later on got reconsecrated as a Shaivite monument by
the Malla monarchs of Bishnupur. Archaeologists have
identified various habitational and ritualistic mounds surrounding this temple,
suggesting that perhaps this was a thriving Buddhist center at some point in
ancient times.
This whole area was influenced
by Buddhism and Jainism from the late millenniums BCE to
the early centuries CE, prior to the kingdom of Mallabhum being established in
circa 8th century CE.
This temple is one of the oldest of its types with sikhara of
Nagara style.