Maluti is a tiny village near Shikaripara town of Dumka, Jharkhand. With a population of nearly 2,500 to 3,000, this unique village consisting of as many as 108 magnificent ancient temples with both the State & Central governments making sincere efforts to declare it a UNESCO…
…World Heritage Site.
Spread over an area of 406 hectares, this village has numerous historical, religious and marvellous architectural ancient heritage structures that one is bound to leave one spellbound with ancient temple structures.
Spread over an area of 406 hectares, this village has numerous historical, religious and marvellous architectural ancient heritage structures that one is bound to leave one spellbound with ancient temple structures.
The tableau of this village of 108 temples & beautiful ponds was presented during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi in 2015 when the then U.S. President Barrack Obama, who was the chief guest, was also impressed.
PM Modi has shown personal interest in bringing Maluti on the…
PM Modi has shown personal interest in bringing Maluti on the…
..map as a historical and religious heritage site after which construction work worth ₹13.67 crore bagen to preserve these heritage sites with the help of Central Govt.
On October 2, 2015, the PM virtually laid the foundation stone of this scheme to project Maluti as a world…
On October 2, 2015, the PM virtually laid the foundation stone of this scheme to project Maluti as a world…
..class heritage site. However, the organisation which was entrusted with the work of preserving these heritage sites & renovating the temples located here, was accused of tampering with their original form.
Construction works came to a halt in 2018 due to objections raised by…
Construction works came to a halt in 2018 due to objections raised by…
..locals & historians. Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais also visited Maluti a few months back.
After returning from Maluti, the Governor held a meeting with the State Tourism Dept officers in Oct where he expressed his disappointment over the works of restoration of temples.
After returning from Maluti, the Governor held a meeting with the State Tourism Dept officers in Oct where he expressed his disappointment over the works of restoration of temples.
Bais said that in order to preserve these heritage sites, there should be minimum interference with the ancient style and structure of these temples. Now the Jharkhand Tourism Department is preparing to start the second phase of the restoration works soon.
In 2010, Global Heritage Fund, an organisation working on restoring the heritage of ancient structures, included the temples of Maluti in the list of the world’s 12 most endangered heritage sites.
Nearly 250 to 300 years ago, of the 108 temples built in Maluti, only 72 are left.
Nearly 250 to 300 years ago, of the 108 temples built in Maluti, only 72 are left.
Due to lack of maintenance, many priceless heritage structures have been destroyed. In recent years, apart from the government, many researches have been conducted on these heritage sites of Maluti at the non-governmental level as well due to which the tourists, including…
…other states apart from Jharkhand, Bihar & West Bengal, frequently visit here in large numbers.
The story of construction of 108 temples and ponds in Maluti is quite interesting. When Bengal was ruled by Sultan Ala-ud-din Hussain Shah between 1494-1519, it is said that the…
The story of construction of 108 temples and ponds in Maluti is quite interesting. When Bengal was ruled by Sultan Ala-ud-din Hussain Shah between 1494-1519, it is said that the…
…Sultan had a penchant for keeping eagles.
One day, one of the Sultan’s favourite eagles went missing so he announced a huge reward for any one who could find the bird. A youth named Basant Rai found this eagle.
One day, one of the Sultan’s favourite eagles went missing so he announced a huge reward for any one who could find the bird. A youth named Basant Rai found this eagle.
Pleased with Rai’s effort, the Sultan gifted the land of Maluti & surrounding areas to him. After owning the land, Basant Rai became known as Raja Baj Basant. His descendant Raja Rakhad Chandra Rai devoted his time to religious pursuits, rituals & ceremonies. He built the first..
..temple in Maluti in 1720 A.D. It is said that other members of his family also started competing with each other regarding the construction of temples.
As many as 108 temples and as many ponds in number were built one by one by the same family. Of these, the tallest temple..
As many as 108 temples and as many ponds in number were built one by one by the same family. Of these, the tallest temple..
..is 60 ft high & the smallest is only 15 ft high.
Maluti is also known as ‘Gupt Kashi’. Ancient inscriptions reveal that Maluti was once known as the ‘Land of Gods’. Realising the religious significance of Maluti, the then Muslim ruler Sultan Ala-ud-din Hussain Shah (1493-1519)
Maluti is also known as ‘Gupt Kashi’. Ancient inscriptions reveal that Maluti was once known as the ‘Land of Gods’. Realising the religious significance of Maluti, the then Muslim ruler Sultan Ala-ud-din Hussain Shah (1493-1519)
..declared this area as a tax-free land.
The temples built in Maluti are of terracotta form. They bear the imprint of the ancient architecture of Chala, Bengal & Orissa.
Somnath Arya has written a book titled ‘Beyond Comparison’ on Maluti with assistance from Jharkhand Govt.
The temples built in Maluti are of terracotta form. They bear the imprint of the ancient architecture of Chala, Bengal & Orissa.
Somnath Arya has written a book titled ‘Beyond Comparison’ on Maluti with assistance from Jharkhand Govt.
He said that the main temple out of these these 108 temples is of Goddess Mauliksha.
The landlord family worships Goddess Mauliksha as the ‘Kuldevi’. Some believe that she may possibly be a goddess of Tantric traditions of Buddhism. ‘Vajrayana’ or ‘Tantric Buddhism’ was very…
The landlord family worships Goddess Mauliksha as the ‘Kuldevi’. Some believe that she may possibly be a goddess of Tantric traditions of Buddhism. ‘Vajrayana’ or ‘Tantric Buddhism’ was very…
..prevalent in Maluti till the 15th century.
It is quite possible that later on people of Hindu religion also started worshiping Goddess Mauliksha. Historians have come to the conclusion that the construction of temples started in this village from 1720, and continued till 1845.
It is quite possible that later on people of Hindu religion also started worshiping Goddess Mauliksha. Historians have come to the conclusion that the construction of temples started in this village from 1720, and continued till 1845.
The maximum number of temples built here are dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Apart from these there are temples devoted to goddess Durga, Kali, Dharmaraj, Mansa Devi & Lord Vishnu built here. Attractive artifacts of terracotta are inscribed outside the temple.
Apart from these there are temples devoted to goddess Durga, Kali, Dharmaraj, Mansa Devi & Lord Vishnu built here. Attractive artifacts of terracotta are inscribed outside the temple.
These artworks are based on the themes of Ramayana & Mahabharata.
Artifacts based on the events of Ram-Ravana war, Ram leela, Krishna leela, Ram’s exile in the forest, Jatayu episode, abduction of Sita, Vakasur war etc. are depicted. One similarity in all these temples is that…
Artifacts based on the events of Ram-Ravana war, Ram leela, Krishna leela, Ram’s exile in the forest, Jatayu episode, abduction of Sita, Vakasur war etc. are depicted. One similarity in all these temples is that…
..the entrance of all of them is quite small.
Nearly all the temples have terracotta panels on the exterior which have not been destroyed even after 300 years. These panels of terracotta have been joined very closely.
Nearly all the temples have terracotta panels on the exterior which have not been destroyed even after 300 years. These panels of terracotta have been joined very closely.
Credit : HinduPost
Jharkhand seeks World Heritage tag for village with 108 historic temples
hindupost.in
Jharkhand seeks World Heritage tag for village with 108 historic temples
hindupost.in
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