LARGE 'CANVASSES' IN TERRA COTTA TEMPLES OF WEST BENGAL

DISPLAYS WHICH OVERCOME THE  LIMITATION OF WALL-RELIEF'S SIZE

'Raasa Leela'. 29th to 33rd Chapters,10th Canto, SriMadbhagat.

Apart from Krsna, there are at least 48 human figures in this Composite Wall-relief.

Words cannot describe the ethereal beauty of this Wall-relief when Shyama Raya temple is lit up.

Shyam Raya temple of Bishnupur is a trend-setter in more ways than one in the 'art' of terra cotta temple. Creating a terra cotta wall-relief has many limitations - one of that is the unit size.  The artists' combined efforts at Shyam Raya temple created the iconic 'Raasa Leela' panel  . Scores of terra cotta temples have been built over two centuries after the one dedicated to Shama Raya  - but, this panel  still stands out.

 Displays in the best of our terra cotta temples have one limitation in common - size of a wall-relief. Artists of several temples have beaten and overcome this limitation creating a big canvass through - shall I say 'composites' - and telling a story in each of this canvasses. Almost all these canvasses are located  above/around  the arches at the entrance - 'Rasa Leela' of Shyama raya temple being an exception. Quite a few keep us beholden by their beauty and splendour.  A few more are here for the eyes of who enjoy terra cotta art.

The stories here are from our scriptures. The battle of Lanka is the most-seen theme. Only a few temples can boast of originality - I have picked up the one which has impressed me most. No large canvass from Mahabharata has  been created at all  - very surprising indeed ! Rama & Sita in Ayodhya in their full glory has inspired the artisans of several temples and I have brought that 'canvass' which I felt is the most most elegant one.

 The most carefully 'evolved' and executed Ramayana's Yuddha scene  

among terra cotta temples of Bengal.  

Ravana, taller than all others around him, in  a posture of submission and prayer 

as Rama  releases 'Brahmastra'. Celestial viewers witness the scene while Bibheesan stands aloof and still. 

Right-hand side temple @ Baronagar complex, District Murshidabad.

 

Kali the Fierce and the 'no-holds-barred' war  around Her. 

Her soldiers and those of  from the demons' side  are literally at each others' throat. Some of them are riding horses, elephants and camels. Yet others are on foot. The weapons they wield are swords,spears, shafts and their own claws.

Antpur temple, District Hoogly.

Rama & Seeta on throne @ the court of Ayoddha.

Wall-relief demonstrates remarkable European influence in layout & dresses 

the characters present wear.

Pratepswar temple, Kalna.

A REFERENCE BOOK ON ARCHITECTURE OF TERRA COTTA TEMPLES

 'Late Medieval Temples of Bengal'  BY David McCutchion

Asiatic Society, Calcutta has opened a Sales Counter in its premises @ Park street. Air-conditioned and equipped with 2 tables /4 chairs for serious buyers to sit down and glance through their publications. Very helpful and courteous sales persons add to the comfort of the buyers.
Yesterday(7/9/11) , I spent  some quality time in this room. I picked up a few books - the most interesting among the lot for members of this Group is a reprint of a book by David McCutchion. Its title is 'Late Medieval Temples of Bengal' ( pl view a photo of the cover below).  Written 1972, 2nd reprint in 2004.
My friends (like Rangan Datta) ,who read and collect books on the technical aspects of temple architecture, will find this book a 'must' for their collection.It has an 'Introduction' by late Amiya Banerji. Asiatic Society deserves 'thanks' from us - would have appreciated better quality of production.

I could find a book on my interest area - Iconology of Vishnu by Dr Pratapaditya Pal.Published in 1970 and reprinted in 1985! Very impressive at 1st glance.Excellent writing !

Both the books have identical problems because of their period of publication. Poor photographs, clubbed at the tail-end of the books. Lost the initial appeal during reprints. Cannot be compared with a newer publication like George Mitchell's 'Hindu Art & Architecture', which is so much easy to read and comprehend the writer's point-of-view as digital editing helps to place text and photos side-by-side.

BISHNUPUR SURREALISTIC

Radhe-Shyam temple lighted-up on a clear December night.

The entrance in the far-end, shot taken from corner near to Jor-Bangla temple.

A  monument lighted up, specially when the background is absolutely dark, has  added  beauty  which is often very difficult to capture in a camera. One has to be physically present in front of this monument,under the dark sky and stare from a distance to 'feel' the surrealistic appeal the scene in one's front !

I  never cease to admire the architecture of Jor-Bangla and Pancha-Ratna temples of Bishnupur. The very first sets of terra cotta temples were built 300+ years ago. The architects sense of proportion amazes me.So far, nothing much has been done on the dimensional proportion of temples - we tend to admire what is very tall and big in a temple. I believe the ratio between its dimension gives the temple a stable look, which quietly adds to the visual appeal.

Coming aback to the subject of the beauty of Bishnupur temples, I was lucky to find the some of the temples well-lighted during my 2-days stay there. We believe, in a place  having rich  architectural  sites, it is often proper not to hurry through the photography session and hop to the next destination, but,stay back, if possible, a little longer . I got reward for this habit at Badami, Bishnupur and Bikaner ( - all these places' names start with a 'B' !). I missed out a lot at Ranakpur and also during my last visit to Chittor  Fort as we were in a hurry. Since  we stayed back at Bishnupur , we could enjoy the lighting  of the temples. The Authorities were gearing up for tourist season due to start in a few days' time and we had the good luck to be present during the trials of lighting. Not another soul around, except for the security guards , during that evening.

All the temples were not lit up - we found lighting in Jor-Bangla ,Pancha-Ratna and  Radhe-Shyam temples. A few bulbs  in the lighting system of Jor-Bangla had conked out. Therefore , capturing the details of the wall-reliefs were difficult.

 Western face of Panchratna temple. This face had the best lighting - 

watch the famous 'RasLeela' panel on the right-hand side of this photo.

 Famous KrsnaLeela scenes on PanchaRatna temple.

Here,I have shared with my friends a few of the photographs I have in my HDD.Hope you have enjoyed.

 East and north faces of Jor-Bangla temple - 

lights on the other side were getting ready.

 

 The famous wall of Jor-Bangla temple which has iconic 

'Nouka Bilas' and 'Bastra Haran' scenes from KrsnaLeela.

MADAN MOHAN TEMPLE OF BISHNUPUR

An oeuvre of the delicate wall reliefs from Madan Mohan temple of Bishnupur

The imposing facade of Madan Mohan temple.Wall-reliefs of identical size adorn the entire surface of the temple.

Madan Mohan temple is one of the finest  terra cotta temples built by  the Malla dynasty of Bishnupur . It was built by Durjana Singh Deva in 1694 AD  and was used for worshiping the royal family's 'griha-devata' .  The temple can be called a classic 'Ek-ratna' temple - I was awed by the sense of proportion.The large 'Nata Mandir' on the south makes photography of the entire facade a little difficult. Yet the 10.7 m tall and 12.2 m wide temple create a very imposing impression .


Very noteworthy are the work on the three pillars too - fluidity of movement of Krsna and  the iconic scene from 'Nouka Khanda'. Seduction of Radha was often an inspiration to the artists of terra cotta panels .  

A section of the wall - reliefs.

I felt that  the  Shyama-Raya, Jor-Bangla and Madan Mohan temples were very  carefully planned - each has an unique visual appeal, an individual character. I have visited numerous terra cotta temples of West Bengal, seen many photographs and read dozens of books and articles on the same. I am yet to come across any critique on the criteria  of aesthetically proportioned temple structure. If any reader can help me in this matter, I shall request him/her to leave a 'comment' on this page....Coming back to Madan Mohan temple, one will find Krsnaleela and dance are the high points of this temple. Also famous is the series of swans . Very watchable are the processions of cows and swans too, much like the 'Ganas' of the cave temples of Badami.

The pillars of the arches are , as expected, are beautifully decorated. The very 1st 'NabaNaareeKunjar' can be found on 'Jor-Bangla' temple - but, the one in this temple is more famous. Please view my blog on this human composite in  http://hubpages.com/hub/icon_ttob_2.  

Those who keenly follow the 'Krsna Leelaa'  wall -reliefs on terra cotta temples, based on Vaisnavite themes, will find that  while creating these panels, the artists have tried to introduce variations. Two 'Nouka Khanda' wall-reliefs at Jor-Bangla and Madan Mohan temples stand out  for their beauty.

Two stages of seduction of Radha. On the RH, Krsna is seen seducing Radha. 

He embraces Radha on the LH side as a Gopini , while rowing, shuts her eyes !

Central pillar - beautifully crafted. 

As lyrical as  writings of  Vidyapati - Candidas 

Dancers and swans run across the length of the temple.

 I suggest the tourists never may not fail capture the panels in their camera.

LOVERS & ONLOOKERS - 'DROLL STORIES' in TEMPLES OF SRIBATI

Social scenes from terra cotta temples  - I : A kaleidoscope of human emotions

An onlooker indeed !The other 'peeping out' panel I have come across is 
in the hexagonal temple @ Ilambazar,Dt _ Birbhum.

Now is the time to look into the social scenes of terra cotta temples - so much about these panels have been written by Zulekha Haque ( photo of the cover of the book  titled 'Terracotta Decorations of Late Medieval  Bengal - Portrayal of a society' not avaible in the Internet. Refer to : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Terracotta-decorations-late-medieval-Bengal/dp/B0000EE2RP/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1284332934&sr=1-2 ) and David McCuchion.

Refer - http://www.amazon.com/Brick-Temples-Bengal-Archives-McCutchion/dp/0691040109

Sribati is avillage 15 km off  the road connecting Calcutta with Katwa.One can reach these temples by car or train/bus - vide my friend Rangan Dutta's article in the Telegraph - http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8929322336097938925.

You will find about these temples' history from Rangan's article. I shall go direcly into the specifics of my subject.The three temple of Sribati are smaller than many of the more famous of this genre - but, what I enjoyed in these temples was is the quality of story-telling I have come across not many times.

Return of the prodigal.The king wipes the tear  from the face of the queen he left behind years ago.

The onlookers have not been placed correctly on this panel - they should have been placed on the right side.

I read about a folk-tale about a  king marrying twice. The second marriage took place when he wandered away to another place .The pining and devotion of the  1st wife  forms a large of the story. The story also describes how she tharted the advance of a local powerful man to entice her to his bed. The king returns after a long time with his second wife t his kingdom. While I was going through the photos I took in the temple, I realised this panel tells the story of the return of the prodigal.

At a courtesans' boudoir.

The other panel I fell in love with depicts  a courtesns' place.  The courtesan on the lefthand side has been wooed by a man while the unsuccessful  bidder looks stands grumpily.The third courtesan is enjoying the process of wooing. The couple in the extreme  righthand corner of this  panel is engaged in a close embrace , oblivious of the people around. All these characters are placed on a very ornate band of abstract motifs.

Resting after the act ?

The above panel was not easy to find......it was nearly hidden under the cobwebs and dust. The features of the man and his lover have been ravaged by weather. The postures -  the woman staring at the face of her lover while her head rests on his lap and the lover's hand touches the thigh of the woman - is very sensuous.No onlookers here - the couple rest in privacy

I end with a panel showing an elderly couple on the bed. We see their faces and upper torsos resting on big pillows, the man trying to caress the face of his old lover,partly undressed, her face shows reluctance to be drawn to the act !

The reluctant partner.

When my wife Ruby I were ending taking photographs, the sun was at the western horizon.A panel on boats caught my notive.... but light was not satisfactory. When I 'photoshopped' the panel, I found a 'story' emerged from the same. Look at the postures of the boatmen -  don't you think they are sharing  'droll stories' ?

What are the 'naughty' stories these whispering boatmen are sharing  ?

Is he reluctant  or afraid that his wife will wake up to catch them  ?

This is a funny situation. The apparently pious husband is being wooed by a very much decked up woman, while his wife is asleep. He appears to be reluctant. Whether it is because he does not want his wife to discover  his  infiedelity or he is genuilely pious and monogamous is left to the imagination of the viewer .

KRSNA & RAMA , THE ICONS of Vaishnavites - 1

A few panels from the largest and the best

All the six temples I have mentioned in the previous blog on Timeline are temples of Krsna.......therefore under deep impact of Vaishnavite scripture and literature . The biggest two I have seen  are from Shyam-Rai and Baronagar temples.In fact , the one from Shyam-Rai temple - the one depicting Rasleela - has deep root in 10th Canto ( Dasham Skandha) of 'Bhagavat Gita' as well as 'Vaishnav Padaabalee', the poems on Krsna's childhood and adolesent life in Vrindaavan.

Rasa Mandala.Shyam Rai Temple, Bishnupur.1643 AD.

Rasa Mandala  is one of the most famous among the terra cotta panels of Bengal. Almost iconic, symbolising the art of terra cotta temples of Bengal. This large panel comprises of segments forming three near concentric circles.At the centre, we find Krsna with two Gopies .Two circles outside - sixteen and twenty four figures respectively - show Krsna dancing with Gopis in many manifestations.Krsna plays drum and dances in top coners among peacocks in slightly different postures.In thr right hand corner, the peacock has spread its tail.At  the lower corners, Krsna-Radha are playing flute. A deer in the right hand corner makes the difference.

Slaying of Kansa.Siva Temple,Baronagar ( near Azimgunj) .1755 AD.

This is the 1st panel  we see as we enter the cluster of four temples at Baronagar ( near Azimgunj) . This panel on top of the left arch of the very first temple has two scenes from  the acts of Krsna-Balaram at Kansa's court. On the left is the 1st hurdle,elephant Kuvalayapeeda . As it charges , Krsna holds it by its teeth while Balaram kills its mahout.On the right , we see Krsna killing Kansa. Kansa's headgear is on the ground. His left hand holds a shield which he could not raise. Kansa's right hand holds a sword he has been unable to use as Krsna overpowered him.

The other two panels are from lesser known temples at Surul ( near Shantiniketan) and the famous Pratapeswar temple at Kalna.

Panel above LH arch of Siva Temple  at Surul. 19th century.
(Photo taken by Ruby Chatterji)

This panel has three rows. The top two rows cover one scene each. The lowermost panel has snatches from several scenes. In the top row, we  find 'Sita's Agnipareeksha' ( Sita's Trial by fire) Four sages are around the fire. Faces of Sita and three on-lookers from Rama's party disfigured. Rama and Lakshman watch from a pavilion on the right hand side.In the central row, we find Rama's court after his return to Ayodhya.Rama and Sita are seated on the throne while adulators and visitors flock in.The lower row is divided into three parts - three phases of Sita's life.. On left hand side, we find Sita in a pavilion and a maid seeks her permission with folded hands. The cental one depicts Sita and Rama in loving embrace under a tree, presumably during the their stay in the forest. An extremely rare scene. In the right hand side, Rama enters Sita's pavilion while Sita is dressing up - her hair being combed by a servant.Beyond this panel, in the right-most corner, we find Sita left in a chariot and a sage's wife bringing a pot of water to her.

Worship pf Devi Durga at Lanka. East wall.Pratapeswar Temple at Kalna.1849 AD.

A very intricately done panel. Top row has Devi Durga at the centre - flanked by Ravana, fully armed yet pondering and Rama about to release an arrow on her two sides. The panel is filled with 'Rakshasas' and monkeys in  battling mode. Durga is not in her 'Akaal Bodhan' manifestation - but 'Mahishasura-mardini' manifestation. A serious deviation from the accepted imagery !

TIMELINE OF SIX BEAUTIES AMONG TERRA COTTA TEMPLES

Those lovely temples......not easy to choose the 'beauties' !


I am very late in starting my 3rd Blog, for the simple reason I could not decide what the 3rd blog would be about.Will it be a blog containing   a selection of wall panels with descriptions  or the Timeline ? Finally, I decided on the Timeline.... and the reader  may kindly excuse me for the error in spelling of 'Raja Ramanath Roy - one of the two patrons of Kantaji's temple.

The hesitation I had is not only because of the problem of editing an 'Excel saved-as Jpeg' file. I was wondering if I am being fare to Pratapeswar temple of Kalna and the cluster of temples of Baronagar.Well, it is very difficult to decide. Eventually, I decided to publish the Timeline I prepared 2+ years ago. It is here :

Tmeline contains temples' photos,Patrons' names and respective years of constructuin.
Please click on this Timeline for having a larger view on your monitor. 

If a person wants to cover all these temples, except for the one in Bangladesh, with her/his hub in Calcutta, s/he must have  atleeast 4 full days in her/his disposal. At least 2 days for Bishnupur and 1 day each for Antpur and Bansberia.

At  and around,Bishnupur, there are more than 3 temples worth visiting plus a very nice , though small, museum which has a very helpful Curator. Mr Chittaranan Dasgupta , a well known figure among Bishupur terra cotta's historians , often cones to the museum in the afternoon - one can visit the temple at Kotalpur       ( different from a village of the same name from in Bankura district). Ditto about Antpur. One word of warning - Photography @ Bishnupur Museum is not allowed . Couple of years ago, I found getting permission for photography at  RadhaGovindjiu's temple at Antpur was difficult too . But, for a serious student of Hindu Iconography, these temples offer rich reward.

Before I close this blog, I would like  to mention  a few specialities of Pratapeswar temple and the cluster at Baronagar. Pratapeswar temple is a Deul type construction , with a distinct style of art.The social scenes stamd out.Baronagar temples' cluster offer a grand display of mythology  and social scenes. More on these temples in later blogs.