Jatar Duel

In News: An ancient terracotta temple in West Bengal’s Sundarbans, which has survived the ravages of time for a millennia, is now facing a very modern threat.

• The impact of climate change, especially the increase in air salinity, is gradually eroding the temple walls

Jatar Duel:

• Jatar Deul is an eleventh century structure, which is located at Raidighi in South 24 Parganas and it is only a few kilometres from the sea.
• Jatar Deul is a Shiva temple and is the tallest standing temple in the Sundarbans on the bank of the river Moni
• There are a number of oral legends on why the temple is called Jatar Deul. The temple has a curvilinear tower similar to temple architecture of the Nagara order of Odisha temples
• The temple is 98 feet high and it stands at a vacant site.
• Jatar Deul is traditionally connected to an inscription, no longer traceable, by one Raja Jayantachandra, purported to have been issued in 975 AD.
• the temple had considerable architectural merit and closely resembled Siddhesvara Temple at Bahulara, near Onda in Bankura district, on plan, elevation and decorative motifs
• the temple is datable to the 10th or 11th century AD on the basis of its architecture.
• An expert on West Bengal temples says that the temple was more likely to have been built around the beginning of the 13th century based on its architectural features.
• Amphan, the tropical cyclone that ravaged coastal West Bengal, particularly the Sundarbans, in May 2020, had destroyed three trees at Jatar Deul, further exposing the temple to the gusty salt-laden coastal winds.

Sources: The Hindu

Previous Year Question

Q.1)With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements:

1. It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty.
2. It is the only circular temple built in India.
3. It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region.
4. Its design has given rise to a popular belief that it was the inspiration behind the Indian Parliament building.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1 and 2
2. 2 and 3 Only
3. 1 and 4
4. 2, 3 and 4