Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[name] => Kal Bhairab Temple
[post_id] => 1057
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/kal-bhairab-temple/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/800px-Kal_Bhairab_in_Brahmanbaria_Bangladesh1-300x225.jpg
[post_content] =>
Kal Bhairab Temple is a Hindu temple which is dedicated to the God Shiva. The temple is famous for the giant Shivalinga. Shivalinga is a 28-feet tall Shiva statue. No other statue in the world is assumed to be as big as it. Hindu Lord Shiva known as Kal Bhairab is the main attraction here, but Goddess Kali is also been worshiped. The location of statue of Kali is on the right side of the Kal Bhairab and the statue of the Goddess Saraswati on the left. The temple is a major pilgrimage place for Shaivites in Bangladesh.
The temple dates back to the 19th century. It is said that approximately 200 years ago a sculptor named Durgacharan Acharjee saw a dream which motivated and influenced him to make preparations to build the statue from soil. Noor Muhammad, the famous landlord of Sarail donated the land to build this temple.
Before the Brahmanbaria city was established, Medda was the market located beside the famous Titas river. This market is almost 300 years old. Durgacharan first built this statue by the bank of the river with soil. Regular prayers were held by the local fans until 1971.
During the Bangladesh Liberation War the Pakistani soldiers damaged and looted a lot of Hindu temples in Bangladesh. This temple was one of the damaged temples. The soldiers damaged the parts of this statue using dynamite. Later the statue was made again. It took four years to build this statue again but it reached the height of 24 feet. The current statue is made of stone.
Both regular and annual prayers are held here. People from different regions come to visit this temple. This place is also referred as one of the tourist attractions of the Brahmanbaria district. There are management committees to look after the temple. The giant statue of the Shiva is mostly locked for maintenance issues. The Government of Bangladesh looks after the charges for maintenance.
)
[1] => Array
(
[name] => Navratna Mandir
[post_id] => 3072
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/navratna-mandir/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Navaratna-temple-Ripon-Dhar....1-300x225.jpg
[post_content] =>
The navaratna style of temple architecture (Sanskrit: नवरत्न, meaning "nine gems") incorporates two main levels, each with four spired corner pavilions, and a central pavilion above, for a total of nine spires. The style arose in Bengal during the eighteenth century as an elaboration of the pancharatna style that had five pavilions (four at the corners and one above).
Many other temples are located close to it. During the reign of Nawab Murshid Khan(1704-1720) estimated a guy named Nayeb Dewan Ramnath Vaduri built it. The main temple is three storied. It is said that during construction of the temple each brick was fried with ghee. This temple was taken by Archaeology department of Government for reformation.
)
[2] => Array
(
[name] => Joy Kali Temple
[post_id] => 10073
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/joy-kali-temple/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/P_20150610_1817041-169x300.jpg
[post_content] =>
The Joy kali Temple of Dhaka, is situated in a place between Thathari (ঠাটারি) Bazar and Wari. The road was named after this temple itself. Now, literally it is 24 Joy Kali Temple street. Joy Kali Temple is a Hindu temple devoted to Goddess Kali Ma for worshipping. People of Hindu religion of every age come to this temple to worship Goddess Kali. The statue of Goddess Kali is of great significance to the Hindus. The visitors and committee members of this temple gather money for occasions, where sweets are later distributed among them which is called 'Prasad'.
History:
This temple is about 400 years old, established in the Bengali year 1001. During the reign of the Nawabs, Dewan of Nawabs Tulsi Narayan Ghosh and Nabh Narayan Ghosh established this temple with the inspection of Bancharam Saint. At that time they established twenty-one statues of Shiva, Kali, Lakshmi narayan, three Shalgram Chakra, Bandurga etc. A few beautiful monuments like Pancharatna, Nabratna, temple of Shiva, guest house, were built in the house of Joy Kali. Even market named Nawabpur Joy Kali bazar, and a market situated at the south of Kaliganj hut was dedicated to Joy Kali Devi.
Present condition:
The first caretaker of this Joy Kali Devi was Bancharam Saint, the third caretaker was Panachenand, who suffered a decline, so the responsibility to serve the Devi got into the hands of Bhraman Tanyar. Later the landlords of that time seized some of the land of this temple. Starting from that time the temple started to erode, due to lack of maintenance and shortage of money. This temple was damaged during the strike of 1990’s. The temple was renovated later on by Goddess Kali’s followers. Now the temple is much smaller than it was when it was first established. The temple was burgled and valuables looted by thieves in 2010.
Architectural significance:
Inside the boundary of this temple there is basically two temples. One of the temples is of Kali Devi, the other one, which has a dome, is of Shiv. The dome was made out of plaster and is visible from outside. Locals of that area refer to this dome as the Joy Kali Temple. The front of the temple complex is a busy stop for human haulers that go into old Dhaka. The temple has tiles on the walls all around, and the floor is made out of mosaic. There are pictures of Hindu Gods and Goddesses printed on the tiled walls of the temple. The entrance to the temple is welcomed by a logo made of stainless steel saying 'Om'- which is a Hindu divine symbol. In front of the Kali Devi statue is a bell hanging from above, it is a ritual to ring the bell after entering the temple and before leaving.
)
[3] => Array
(
[name] => Fegnasar Moth
[post_id] => 9300
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/fegnasar-moth/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/fegnasar-moth-2-300x169.jpg
[post_content] =>
On Dhaka-Betka (Sirajdikhan) highway after passing Sirajdikhan and crossing the river Isamoti, a Hindu Moth is seen on the left side. This moth is called the Fegnasar Moth which is actually a Shiva Temple.
It is 150 feet in height, making it visible from the highway. There is a Shiva Linga inside the moth. Devotees pray here almost regularly. Like other Hindu Moths it has magnificent wall structure. The total place and surrounding is decorated with flower garden specially Joba(Chinese Rose). According to ritual, tulsi plant and jasmine tree is also cultivated.
Specialty of this place is, the Moth was established about 200 years ago. Obviously at that time the road structure was not likewise today. The moth is situated inside a large crop field. It is actually like an island surrounded by rice field. So that if you want to come here, you have to walf from the highway through an off-road trail inside the crop field. In rainy season, the way becomes very muddy and slippery. But you will still enjoy a lot!
Please do not refer this place to people as "Fegnasar Shiva Mandir" because there is another Shiva temple in this locality in this name. Just ask for the "Moth".
)
)
