Temple Terracottas of Bengal
BY: SUN STAFF
Oct 26, USA (SUN) — Terracotta temple art held an important place in Bengal's early folk arts, many of which had disappeared by the 19th century. As various art forms from the Indus Valley gradually moved eastwards, they flourished in areas like Bengal. Terracotta work became particularly popular in Bengal, where stone was hard to find.
By the middle of the 18th century, Bengali terracotta craftsmen had attained perfection in the art. Their work was supported by Rani Bhawani, the noble temple-builder and philanthropist, and by many other wealthy people who followed her example.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, literally thousands of temples were built all over Bengal. Beautiful terracotta temple works from the Gupta period have been discovered in North Bengal, and particularly in Birbhum district, where terracottas were profusely manufactured by local craftsmen for decorating these temples.
Many thousands of Siva, Vaishnava and Kali temples are scattered all over the Birbhum region. Built of brick, sand and lime plaster, their sizes vary from thirty to fifty feet in height and twelve to thirty feet at the base. Even in the temples that now lie in ruins, beautiful specimens of baked clay terracottas remain. These fragments depict figural compositions of all sorts, set into decorative panels.
In the day when these temples were built, it was considered a pious act to build a temple. They were built by men of all classes - Zamindars, Brahmins, Kayasthas, betel-leaf growers, lac traders, coal merchants, and even wine distillers. Whenever a tank was dug in a village, it was the custom to build a temple nearby. After bathing and purification, villagers could also cleanse their hearts by praying in the nearby temple.
The Birbhum-Barddhaman group of terracotta temples in West Bengal are of particular note to Vaisnavas, and many example still exist of these very beautiful places of worship. Throughout this region, a wealth of decorative terracotta panels can be found on the façades and bases of these temples. While efforts are underway to protect the art treasures, many of these exquisite terracotta temples have steadily decayed, and many more have ceased to exist altogether.
Rama and Sita, 18th c., Kalikapur village
With the near-extinction of the artists themselves, the traditional technique of this art has now disappeared. As recently as seventy years ago, Guilds of terracotta artists and artisans practiced in Bengal. They worked in cooperatives, with thirty to forty men trained in a particular craft, living and working under a Master artist. The Master took all responsibility for the erection of the temple, including the decorative terracottas. These temple-building artisan groups formed themselves into traveling troupes of artists, and they spread their art culture from village to village.
