Radhabinod Temple in Joydev Kenduli

Kinjal Bose

The Birbhum district of West Bengal is home to several noteworthy terracotta temples among which the Radhabinod Temple located at Joydev Kenduli in the Ilambazar block deserves a special mention.

This south-facing brick-built nabaratna (nine pinnacle) temple houses the idols of Radhabinod and Radhika and features impressive terracotta work on its facade.

A protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Kolkata Circle, this temple ‘with ridged turrets’ has two entrances – the main entrance  lies in the south while the other is situated in the east. Unlike many other temples which are built on a raised platform, the Radhabinod Temple stands almost at ground level.

The Radhabinod Temple was built by Kirtichand Bahadur of Bardhaman in 1683 A.D. It is believed that the current temple stands at the same place where once existed the house of the famous 12th century poet, Joydev.

Joydev, the court poet of Lakshman Sen was famous for the composition of Geet Govinda. The village of Kenduli is believed to be the birth place of the poet. However, this fact is debatable as some believe that Joydev was born at Kenduli Sashan in Odisha.

On the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti (last day of the Bengali month of Poush), a fair is held here for three days which is a huge crowd puller attracting devotees, pilgrims, sadhus, kirttaniyas, and baul singers.

Apart from Radhabinod Temple, there are two charchaka (four sloped roof) temples constructed side by side on a raised platform.

There is another temple which is of anomalous type and can be termed as “a modification of ratna design” close to the Ajoy River dedicated to Kusheswar Shiva.

Despite the age of Radhabinod Temple most of the terracotta works on the panels have survived. The left panel depicts Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, Indra, Agni, and Yama. The central panels depicts the battle scene with Ram and Ravana and the right panel is rather interesting as there appears to be a huge mythical bird – Suparsha trying to engulf Ravan’s chariot which finds mention in Ramayana written by Krittibas Ojha. Apart from that, one will also come across sadhus, dwarpal and even mrityulata (death vine) in the corners of the temple wall. This scene is a rather common feature in most of the terracotta temples of Bengal.

Many consider it holy to get a dip in the Ajoy River on the day of Makar Sankranti. It was said that poet Joydev had to walk a long distance to take a dip in the Ganges. Due to age, it was rather difficult for him to cover such a distance. Lord Vishnu, moved by this, asked the Ganges to start flowing in the backward direction to the Ajoy River on the holy day of Makar Sankranti.