Jater Deul
VERY FEW TEMPLES BELONGING TO THE PALA PERIOD HAVE SURVIVED IN BENGAL & THE ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLES ARE THE TEMPLE OF BAHULARA IN BANKURA DISTRICT AND THAT OF ICHAIGHOSE IN THE BURDWAN DISTRICT.THE DESERATED TEMPLE IN THE SUNDARBANS CALLED THE DEUL,MUST ALSO BELONG THE PALA PERIOD...”
(RAKHAL DAS BANDHAPARDHAYA)
In the middle of nineteenth century British surveyors stumbled upon a towering structure deep in side the Sundarban. Locally known as the Jatar Deul, this brick built structure is considered as one of the oldest intact structures of the state. Jatar Deul is an abandoned temple and its inner sanctum has no idols but locals have placed several idols which are being worshiped. The sanctum contains idols and pictures of Shiva, Parvati, Karthik, etc., which are worshiped by locals but of no historical importance.
It is evident from an earlier photograph that the temple had considerable architectural merit and closely resembled to Siddhesvara Temple at Bahulara, near Onda in Bankura district on plan, elevation and decorative motifs. The temple is datable to c. 10th - 11th century AD on the basis of its architecture. . The monument went through a transformation when it was repaired under the Archaeology Department. They altered its shape and features and hence it lost its originality.
Nothing much is known about the history of Jatar Deul. A copper plate found near the temple in 1875 suggests that Raja Joychandra constructed the temple in 975 AD(*WE KNOW VASCO da GAMA’S VOYAGE TO INDIA A.D.1497). The plate has long been missing and absence of any other historical records on Joychandra has still kept the historians in the dark.Jatar Deul is an abandoned temple and its inner sanctum has no idols but locals have placed several idols which are being worshiped.the forests have long gone and have been replaced with agricultural fields, but the temple still stands with its long and elegant spire towering above the treetops.The top of Jatar Deul was not dilapidated condition. Gain of hidden treasure people pull down the roof.After in anyway the roof was build.
“THE DEPUTY COLLECTOR OF DIOMOND HARBOUR REPORTED IN 1875 THAT ACOPPERPLATE DISCOVERED IN APLACE LITTLE TO THE NORTH OF JATER DEUL FIXES THE DATE OF ERECTION OF THIS TEMPLE BY RAJA JAYANTA CHANDRA IN THE YEAR 897 OF THE BENGAL SAK ERA CORRESPONDING TO A.D.975. THE COPPERPLATE WAS DISCOVERED BY THE GRANTEE DURGA POSSAD CHOUDHURY.THE INSCRIPTION IS IN SANSKRIT AND THE DATE AS USEAL GIVEN IN ENIGMA WITH THE NAME OF FOUNDER.”
(LIST OF ANCIENT MONUMENTS IN THE PRESIDENCY DIVISION,1896:p_3)
The name Jater Deul probably originated from:
******************************************
> The matted hair of Shiva was here.( Jata: matted hair, Deul: Deula (ଦେଉଳ)/Mandira(ମଦିର) in Oriya), No idol but the locals believe it to be a Shiva temple .
> Others believe that it was due to a "tiger with matted hair" who once took shelter in the temple.(HUMAN SKELITONS ARE THERE)
>Though confusions about this being a Buddhist pagoda,(GUTAM BUDGH WENT TO SINGHAL FOR SPREAD HIS RELIGION ON THIS WAY AND SUNDHARBON’S PEOPLE ACCEPT THIS RELIGION) by Hiuen-Tsang.
>Victory tower of Pratapaditya of Jessore apart from being a Hindu Temple cannot be ignored.(IN A SEA BATTLE PRATAPADITYA DEFACT MUGHUL BY HIS SOULDER’S RURA.THE BATTLE TOOK PLACE IN OUTLATE OF VIDHADARI)
>‘TRI RATH’ ( TO REMEMBER THE TAKE OFF OF A PLANE).
CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL
*****************************************
: THIN BRICK USE TO BRICK WORK.
: MATTER LIME.
:SECRATION FROM SPACIAL TYPE OF TREE.
Festival: On 2nd Baikash (Mid April) a mela (fair) is held near the temple. The highlight of the mela is a horse race.
MOHAPRAVU
TALA
ON
1510 A.D.SRI CHATAYA DEV (AGE-24) WENT TO PURI DHAM .ON THAT TIME HE SPEND ONE
NIGHT BARUIPUR (ANTISARA GRAM) IN THE HOME OF SRI ANANTA LAL ACHARIYA. ALL
NIGHT HE SANG SONGS IN PRAISE AT WHARF.THIS WHARF IS “KIRTAN KHALA GHAT”.SRI
ANANTA SET UP TIMBER-IDOL OF SRI GOURANGA & NITYANANDA IN HIS HOUSE .NEAR
AT BARUIPUR BAZER THIS IDOL FOUND OF A HOUSE, AND NOW A TEMPLE IS CONSTRUCTION
BY “BARANAGAR PATH BARI ASHRAM”.
