Ekteswar
Encyclopedia
Ekteswar was earlier a village and now a part of the outskirts of Bankura town in Bankura district
in the India
n state
of West Bengal
. It is situated on the bank of Dwarakeswar River
.
The place derives its name from a temple dedicated to Shiva
, called Ekteswar. It was built by the Rajas of Bishnupur. The temple was built of laterite, but had subsequent additions of sandstone and brick. Charak Puja
is celebrated in the Bengali month of Choitro
with great enthusiasm.
The Ekteswar temple is a unique one enshrining Ekapaada Murthy - a manifestation of Shiva.
Ekteswar temple has its speciality. It is a solid structure, not generally seen in Bengal. The temple was not built in the Bengal style. The top has probably faced damage and so it seems incomplete.
The deity at Ekteswar is believed by many to be Ekpadeswar, but the present deity is not so. Whether it was so in the past cannot be said with certainty. According to mythology, Shiva
himself meditated in a boundary dispute between Bishnupur and Samantabhum
kingdoms and as such stands as arbitrator of their fate.
Bankura District
Bankura district is one of the seven districts of Burdwan Division in the Indian state of West Bengal. The district has been described as the “connecting link between the plains of Bengal on the east and Chota Nagpur plateau on the west.” The areas to the east and north-east are low lying alluvial...
in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
. It is situated on the bank of Dwarakeswar River
Dwarakeswar River
Dwarakeswar River is a major river in the western part of West Bengal.-Course:It originates from Tilboni hill in Purulia district and enters Bankura district near Chhatna. It cuts across the district flowing past the district head quarters and enters the south-eastern tip of Bardhaman District...
.
The place derives its name from a temple dedicated to Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
, called Ekteswar. It was built by the Rajas of Bishnupur. The temple was built of laterite, but had subsequent additions of sandstone and brick. Charak Puja
Charak Puja
Charak Puja is a very enchanting folk festival of the Southern Belt of Bangladesh and West Bengal. It is also known as "Nil Puja". The believers of the Hindu religion celebrate this on the last day of Chaitra ....
is celebrated in the Bengali month of Choitro
Choitro
Choitro is the last of the twelve months of the Bangla Calendar. It falls from mid-March to mid-April and is the last month of Spring.Choitro is also known as:*Chait in the Nepali Bikram Sambat calendar....
with great enthusiasm.
The Ekteswar temple is a unique one enshrining Ekapaada Murthy - a manifestation of Shiva.
Ekteswar temple has its speciality. It is a solid structure, not generally seen in Bengal. The temple was not built in the Bengal style. The top has probably faced damage and so it seems incomplete.
The deity at Ekteswar is believed by many to be Ekpadeswar, but the present deity is not so. Whether it was so in the past cannot be said with certainty. According to mythology, Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
himself meditated in a boundary dispute between Bishnupur and Samantabhum
Samantabhum
Samantabhum was the name given to the tract of country in the Chhatna area in present Bankura district in the Indian state of West Bengal.-History:...
kingdoms and as such stands as arbitrator of their fate.