Bishnupur Rashmancha:1 of A Spot For Rich History

Bishnupur Rashmancha forced us to visit the place and one winter morning we reached in front of it . Bishnupur tour started with  Bishnupur Rashmancha. Many books & research works on the history of Bishnupur are available in scattered form. I am trying to jot down a compact description of  Bishnupur Rashmancha, so that anyone can get an organized idea at a glance. Historical heritage Bishnupur is now located in Bankurah district of west Bengal.Bankura is a precise ancient land of Indian history which is located in the south- western part of west Bengal. It looks like an isosceles triangle with its northern pinnacle at the confluence of Burdwan and Purulia districts and has an uneven east-west base line latent on Midnapur and Hooghly district.

Background History of Bishnupur Rashmancha

The geographical Position  & Archaeological importance of Bisnupur  

The first evidence of this state, we can find in the first book of the Jain Sculptures (written around the 3rd century BC.), where the 24^th Tirthankara Mahavira traveled in this part of India. The state was untraversed and the territory was covered with dense forest. Since ancient times this kingdom has been ruled by Gupta, Pala,Sen kings at different time period.Besides, several expeditions made by the Odishan Ruler as wellas invasions by the Khilji, Turki, Marathas resulted into shifting of political connotation from time to time.On the whole,it can be concluded that the Bishnupur royal family is one of the oldest kingdoms, even before the British rule.We got to know from The Gazetteer of Bankura District, the temple building movement in this zone as backward as the Bankura province of the past as a process towards Aryanization.

The temples of Bishnupur undoubtedly indicate the impact of north Indian Nagara-Sikhara style of which Odisha version is the appropriate example. Setting Brahmins as priestly caste with land grants or the like for carrying on temple services had been another practice with the local rulers that facilitated the course of Aryanization. Bishnupur, a historical town situated on south of the Dhalkisor River in Bankura. Bishnupur, was the capital of former Hindu Mallabhum King. it was founded in the 8^thcentury AD and was once the most important leader of Hindu dynasty in Bengal. Under the Malla dynasty Bishnupur was extended over whole of Western Rarh. We point out a rich temple culture in this region of Mallabhum. These shrines are devoted to lord Krishna, indicating the critical role that Gaudiya Vishnavism played a pivotal role to create the temple architecture. The forms of Krishna enshrined in these temples express the Vaishnava importance on his relationship with Radha. The magnificence of Bishnupur inclined to its top under Bir Hambir, the 49th King of Mallabhum. He was contemporary to the Mughal emperor Akbar. Bir Hambir was intensely influenced by Srinibas Acharya, a follower of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who was the founderand preacher of Vaishnava tradition in Bengal. So he turned out to be a Vishnu worshiper. Perhaps Bishnupur derived its name from Lord Visnu. The Bishnupur Rasmancha (Bengali:  Raasmoncho) is a historical edifice of Bishnupur. It was specially made by Mallabhum raja Hambir Malla Dev (Bir Hambir) in 1600 CE. During the Vaishnava Ras festival, all the Radha Krishna idols of Bishnupur town used to be brought here to be worshiped by the citizens. The annual festival was held till 1932 and then it was stopped. Therasa leela (Dance of Divine Love) has been established in West Bengal for eras. This auspicious occasion usually celebrated on Kartik Purnima where Lord Krishna is brought from different temples and placed on a viewing galary called rasmancha. The Bishnupur Rasmancha is one of the few constructed in terracotta motif.This architectural wonder was built between 1587 – 1600 CE by Bir Hambir of Mallabhum who chosen the fine terracotta easily available in Bishnupur.

Historical evidence as well as architectural structure of Bishnupur Rashmancha 

Traditionally Bishnupur Rashmancha is either hexagonal or octagonal in shape to create panoramic view for viewers but Bishnupur Rashmancha is exceptionally built on a square podium. This unique edifice considered as ‘Pride of Bishnupur’.It is the oldest terracotta temple unlike most others in the earth and is a topic of interest for architects, annalists and artists. This extraordinary shrine established on a square platform evaluating 30 metres at a height of 1.5 metres up over the ground. The base of the Bishnupur Rashmancha is constructed with the laterite stone which is widely available in local area, but the upper part of the structure is built in hand made bricks. The steps leading to the platform give you a splendid view of the arched corridors and the with great slashes of shadow, creates a chiaroscuro. The Bishnupur Rashmancha temple segregated in three rows of arcades which used to line the images of gods and goddesses taken specifically for audience to see. It is considered that these used to be worshiped by the royal priest and were shown to the commoners for the entire duration of the celebrations of rasa leela. This is a rare concept brought forth by the Hindu Malla kings which is practiced merely here. The farthest portico has a typical slopping roof with towers shaped accordingly creating a uncommon consequence on the roof. The building is constructed carefully on a grid system with 16 grids in the centre (4 grids on each side) that encircles the altar sanctum devoted to Lord Krishna and Radha. The 100 smaller grids (10 grids on each side) that created the three galleries. Each side has four dochala (two roofed design) and each corner has an aatchala (eight roofed) that adds to its grandeur. A secret room consist in that temple and a tunnel built for the king to escape in case of an emergency. The outsides of the temple depicted with bas-reliefs of dancing male – female figures and lotus motifs.

The outer bends are uneven while the internal sides are smooth. The detail sculpture on the arches and the brickwork is marvelous and interesting too.  The slopping top of this temples the most incredible compared to that era at the time of the temple was built. That architecture can be described as “pride of Bengal” in terms of its indigenous blend of creation with terracotta, mud and possibly aboriginal filling more than 400 years ago! This stepped hut looked roof is distinctive feature of the temple architecture of the Malla kings and is said to be the highest in Bishnupur.

Conclusion 

After acquisition by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), they created a well decorated garden in its premise. There are some cannons kept in the compound dating back to the Malla period. This Bishnupur Rashmancha building is a secured as a memorial of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).  Though coverings have fallen in different parts of the wall, you will an unknown charm while you walk through the arched shaded corridor of Bishnupur Rashmancha. Certain imagination will knock in your mind and you will be feeling about somekind of grand celebrations that have been held here in the past.          

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