Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[name] => Dhakeshwari National Temple
[post_id] => 1455
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/dhakeshwari-national-temple/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Dhakeshwari-National-Temple-3-300x225.jpg
[post_content] =>
Dhakeshwari National Temple is a Hindu temple in Dhaka city. It is state-owned, giving it the distinction of being Bangladesh's 'National Temple'. The name "Dhakeshwari" means "Goddess of Dhaka". Since the destruction of Ramna Kali Mandir in 1971 by the Pakistan Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War, the Dhakeshwari Temple has assumed status as the most important Hindu place of worship in Bangladesh.
The Dhakeshwari temple was built in the 12th century by Ballal Sen, a king of the Sena dynasty, and many say the city was named after this temple. The current architectural style of the temple cannot be dated to that period because of the numerous repairs, renovations and rebuilding which have taken place over time. It is considered an essential part of Dhaka's cultural heritage. Many researchers said that the temple is also one of the Shakti Peethas, where the jewel from the crown of the Goddess Satihad fallen. Although there is not enough historical context to establish this as a fact, researchers were directed to this site while trying to locate the particular Shakti Peetha. Since ages, the temple has been held in great importance. The original 800-year old statue was taken to Kumartuli, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. There remains the replica of original idol in Dhaka. The temple was further damaged during the Muslim mob attacks of 1989–90.
It is widely believed that the Queen, wife of King Bijoy Sen, went to Langolbond for bathing. While coming back, she gave birth to a son, known to historians as Ballal Sen. After ascending to the throne, Ballal Sen built this temple to glorify his birthplace. Legends say that Ballal Sen once dreamt of the deity covered under the jungle. Ballal Sen uncovered the deity from there and built a temple, named for Dhakeswari. Whatever the legends describe, Hindu religious consider Dhakeswari to be the presiding deity of Dhaka, which is an incarnation or form of Goddess Durga the Adi Shakti . The idol of Durga is called Dhakeswari.
Within the premises of the Dhakeswari there are temples of two types of architecture. The ancient one is of the Poncharotna Goddess Durga’s which lost its actual look after the renovation work. Bradly Bird wrote this at the beginning of this century. The present temple is two hundred years old which was built by an agent of East India Company. Most probably he had renovated the temple. Other than this there are four Shib Temples. According to hearsay, in the 16th century King Mansing built these temples by laying four Shib Lingas there. But this information seems to be unreliable. The fusion of Bangla chowchala and shikor temple is notice in the architecture of Dhakeshawri. Ratan Lal Chakraborti in an article mentioned that “ the structure and architecture of it is like a BuddhistPagoda”. He opined that it was probably a Boddist pagoda which was turned into a Hindu temple later. From this, he assumed that the temple was probably built in the 10th century.
How did Dhakeshari temple look like in the 19th century? Ridoynath Majumder described about the temple. At that time the temple was covered by jungle and in its north the Urdu road went westward towards Pilkhana and at its south west was Mirpur road. At its south there was a wood and Urdu bazaar was at the east.
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[1] => Array
(
[name] => Fegnasar Shiva Temple
[post_id] => 9298
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/fegnasar-shiva-temple/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Fegnasar-shib-1-169x300.jpg
[post_content] =>
Fegnasar Shiva Temple (ফেগুনসার শিব মন্দির) was built in the reign (1159-1185 AD) of great King Bollal Shena. Another conception said, it might be built between 1725-1758 AD during the reign of King Raj Bollov. In course of time, it was on the way to destruction. Then, Moharaja Raj Bollov took some initiative to reconstruct that. It can not be assured who particularly built that temple. King Ballav was a great devotee of Shiva.
This temple is in rectangular shape at base,measuring 15 feet length,10 feet width and about 25 feet high from the ground. Very common constructing material like bricks, cement and limes being used to build that temple. At the last day of full moon night in every Bengali month of Falgun, there is a large festival of worshiping being held here.
There are so many stories being populated among common people about the builder of that Temple. Inside the temple, there is a large "Shiva Lingha" (শিব লিঙ্গ) (Phallus) placed. According to the local people, this is the largest phallus brought from South India (not true at all,because largest one is located at Faridpur District). Just about 100 meter away, there is a branch of Dhaleswari river flowing.
This place is sometimes locally mentioned as Raypura Mondir
)
[2] => Array
(
[name] => Dighinala Bon Bihar
[post_id] => 22310
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/dighinala-bon-bihar/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Dighinala-Bon-Bihar-01-300x225.jpg
[post_content] => Dighinala Bon Bihar, a very beautiful serene place is located on the way to Sajek valley. It is just before entering the Dighinala town (if you are coming from Khagrachhari).
This is a place for the Buddhist people. The Buddhist religion is one of the world's most peaceful religion. People are always calm and quiet, and so does their religious places. This place is free from any crowds. Inside there, most of the people talks in a low voice (or you should say modest).
After entering inside the main premise through the gate, you can find two temples there. One is having a large statue of the Buddha. And the other one is having two statues (local people say this as the statue of Bhante of Rangamati Bihar (ভান্তে, রাঙামাটি বিহার), and who died recently). In between the two temples, there is a small field like place available which is shaded by a medium sized tree.
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[3] => Array
(
[name] => Sri Sri Madhab Gaurio Moth
[post_id] => 10239
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/sri-sri-madhab-gaurio-moth/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/P_20150610_175253_LL1-300x169.jpg
[post_content] =>
Sri Sri Madhab Gaurio Moth was established in the year 1921, by a Hindu Saint named Sri Shil Vaktishiddhanto Saraswati Goswami Thakur Pravupaad (শ্রী শীল ভক্তিসিদ্ধান্ত সরস্বতী গোস্বামী ঠাকুর প্রভুপাদ). This Madhab Gaurio Moth has now turned into the facility of a charitable dispensary where Hindu patients are treated well. It is the place where Hindu Religious people used to pray for their well being and simultaneously it's a place for charitable treatment where patients has been prescribed at every Friday from 8:00 am to 10:00 am. Last Thursday of every month a camping is being launched by the authority to prescribe the people having problems with their eyes.
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