Located a short distance away from Pratapeswar Temple and the Rasmancha in the Rajbari temple complex at Ambika Kalna, the Rupeshwar temple is a small flat-roofed temple measuring 6.8m x 5.9m. This style of architecture was quite common in later periods but comparatively rare before the 19th century.
The temple stands on a raised platform which provides a narrow circumambulation passage around the structure, with a south-facing triple-arched entrance. The facade does have some elaborately decorated terracotta plaques, but much here has disappeared over time. In later examples of flat-roofed temples, these traditional features had been reduced to a minimum. A Shiva Linga is installed in the sanctum.
The temple was built (and named after) Maharani Rupkumari Devi, the first wife of Maharaja Tilak Chandra, in 1765. Maharaja Tilak Chandra, was a Zamindar of Burdwan from 1744 to 1771, and gained the titles of Raja Bahadur in 1746, and Maharaja in 1753. He was appointed Panch Hazari Zat by the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II in 1768, and was granted permission to keep 3,000 cavalry and have command of 5,000 men. He and died 1771 aged 37.
The inscription above the entrance is not a foundation stone, but instead appears to be a Bengali verse. I’ve done my best to translate this, if any of my readers spot any errors please add a comment at the end of this blog.
“Sri Ramapriya, the moon of great virtues,
Resplendent like the moon, adorned with the cluster of stars,
The great boar, the elephant, and the bull, worshipped by the elderly and the three worlds,
The abode extending up to Tripura, resembling Mount Kailash,
There, the mighty one, seated on the lion-throne, shines gloriously.”
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Categories: Ambika Kalna, India, Rupeswar Temple - Ambika Kalna, West Bengal
Kevin Standage 