Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[name] => Kantaji Temple
[post_id] => 4671
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/kantaji-temple/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/kantaji-temple21-300x186.jpg
[post_content] =>
Kantaji Temple, also known as the Kantanagar Temple, is located in the graceful heart of gorgeous countryside of Dinajpur. This is a stunning block of religious artwork, and is surely one of the most impressive Hindu monuments in Bangladesh.
Built in 1704-1752 A.D. by Pran Nath, a renowned maharaja from Dinajpur, and his adopted son Ram Nath, it is the country’s finest example of brick and terracotta style. Its most remarkable feature, typical of late Mughal-era temples, is its superb surface decoration, with infinite panels of sculpted terracotta plaques.
This 15-sq-meter, three-story edifice was originally crowned with nine ornamental two-story towers, which collapsed during the great earthquake of 1897 and were never replaced. The temple is built on a high platform. This is a Nava-ratna temple. The roof of the ground floor and first floor each contains four sikharas or ratnas at their corners while the roof of second floor in its middle contains the ruins of the central sikhara.
The entire outer surface of the temple is exquisitely established with terracotta plaques which depict flora and fauna, geometric motifs, mythological scenes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, and the contemporary social scenes and favorite pastime. The idol of Kantaji is kept in the garvagriha of the temple in its ground floor.
The department of Archaeology has been performing the necessary conservation and restoration works of Kantaji Temple since it was declared a protected monument by the Government in 1960. This is a UNESCO world heritage site.
)
[1] => Array
(
[name] => Temple of Bojrojogini (Kali Mondir)
[post_id] => 9068
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/temple-of-bojrojogini-kali-mondir/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/bojrojogini-Old-kali-mondir-11-300x169.jpg
[post_content] =>
Nearly 100 years old Shiv-Kali Temple is situated at Bojrojogini Bazar in Munshiganj District. It was established in 1345 Bengali Year by a local merchant. Few years back the temple was attacked by some extremists and they occurred some damages. The main name plate was hit by a shovel and one of its corner was broken. Now one part of the temple is almost broken but the main part is repaired by the local Hindu community. There was a large shiva lingam was there which was taken by the government and now displayed in the National Museum in Shahbag.
The devotee Chandra Shil said, now the temple will receive some non-government funding to keep it running.
)
[2] => Array
(
[name] => {:en}Adinath Temple{:}{:bn}আদিনাথ মন্দির{:}
[post_id] => 1155
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/adinath-templecoxs/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Adinath-temple-source-geo-location-1024x680-1.jpg
[post_content] => {:en}
The place is famous for the annual fair held in the month of Phalgun according to the Bengali Calendar. The fair takes place at the foot of the Mainak Hill and lasts for 13 days. Thousands of Hindus participate here from all over Bangladesh.
Adinath Temple is located on the summit of the Mainak Hill on Maheshkhali Island off the coast of Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, is dedicated to the Hindu God, Shiva, who is worshiped as Adinath.
The Adinath temple clearly shows in its construction the association of the Natha community. The temple is 6 m high and measures 10.5 m × 9.75 m; the inner walls are 1.05 m thick, while outer walls are 0.60 m thick. There are three parts; the northern part, which is older, contains two square rooms (3.35 m each side) for worship – the eastern one has the image of Adinatha Banalinga Shiva and the western one has the image of eight-armed Durga (Idol).
There is no authentic proof to connect Gorakhghata or the temple with Goraksanatha, the guru of the Natha community. It may be that one of the disciples of Goraksanatha may have named the ghat at Maheshkhali after the guru. Natha philosophy evolved out of the long association of the Saivites with the Buddhists and in the 10th-11th centuries emerged Tantric Shastras. Adinatha (variants Matsyendranatha or Minanatha) emerged through this process of evolution. Nathism represents the folk religion of Bengal based on mantra-tantra and asceticism.
The entrance is bow-shaped, while the entrances on the northern and southern sides have been closed with brickwork. There are two windows, one on the east and the other on the west side. The two rooms are covered with domes on pendentives. The finials on top are decorated with lotus, kalasa and chakra. The tops of the octagonal pillars have kalasa and twined scrolls. The top of the arch on the western side has floral and the eastern one has trixul decoration. There are two niches on the southern wall. The second and third parts of the temple are recent additions.
Author: Muhammad Abdul Baten
{:}{:bn}
আদিনাথ মন্দির কক্সবাজার জেলার মহেশখালী উপজেলায় অবস্থিত। আদিনাথ মন্দিরটি কক্সবাজার জেলার মহেশখালী দ্বীপের মাইনাক পাহাড়ের উপরে অবস্থিত। এই মন্দিরে হিন্দু দেবতা শিবকে আদিনাথ হিসেবে পূজা করা হয়।
প্রতিবছর বাংলা ফাল্গুন মাসে এখানে মাইনাক পাহাড়ের পাদদেশে ১৩ দিনব্যাপি মেলা অনুষ্ঠিত হয়। বাংলাদেশের বিভিন্ন স্থান থেকে আগত হিন্দু পুন্যারথীরা মেলায় অংশ নিয়ে থাকেন।
{:}
)
[3] => Array
(
[name] => Jorbangla Temple
[post_id] => 2939
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/jorbangla-temple/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Jor-Bangla-Temple-17-300x201.jpg
[post_content] => Jor-bangla, also called char-chala or yorubangala, is a style of temple architecture that arose in Bengal. The style involves two structures that resemble the traditional village huts of the region, one that serves as a porch, in front of the other that serves as a shrine.
)
)
