{{Short description|Style of a Hindu temple}} {{italic title}} [[File:Ram Chandraji temple of Guptipara in Hooghly district 01.jpg|250px|thumb|''Ek-ratna'' Ramchandraji temple at [[Guptipara]], Hooghly district.]] '''''Ratna Style''''' ({{langx|bn|রত্ন শিল্পরীতি}}) is a style of [[Bengal temple architecture]], that originated in [[Bengal]] from the 15th to 16th centuries, under the [[Mallabhum kingdom]] (also called Malla dynasty).<ref>{{cite web | url = http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Temple_Architecture | title = Temple architecture| first= Nasreen| last= Akhter| publisher = Banglapedia |access-date = 7 June 2023}}</ref> Originating as a regional style in [[Hindu temple architecture]]. It is an extended style of the [[Chala Style|''Chala'' temple]].<ref name="Ratna-style-temples-with-an-ambulatory">{{cite book |last1=Becker-Ritterspach |first1=Raimund Otto Artur |title=Ratna style Temples with an Ambulatory: Selected temple concepts in Bengal and the Kathmandu Valley |url=https://himalbooks.com/product/ratna-style-temples-with-an-ambulatory-selected-temple-concepts-in-bengal-and-the-kathmandu-valley/ |date=2016 |publisher=Himal Books |location=Kathmandu, Nepal |isbn=9789937597296 |edition=First |access-date=7 June 2023}}</ref> The special feature of ''Ratna-style'' temples is the curved cornice of the [[Chala Style|''chala'']].
''Ratna-style'' temples were built all over [[Bengal]]. But [[List of temples in Bishnupur|most of the temples]] are found in the city of [[Bishnupur, Bankura|Bishnupur]]. In the present day, the temples are now located in two separate national territories: the Indian states of [[West Bengal]] and [[Tripura]], and [[Bangladesh]].
== Etymology == ''Ratna-style'' temples have one or more towers or pinnacles above the curved roof. These pinnacles are known as ''Ratna'' (jewel) in [[Bengal temple architecture]]. This temple architectural style derives its name from these pinnacle (ratna).
== History == The ratna style came up in the 15th-16th century.<ref name="mccutchion">McCutchion, David J., ''Late Mediaeval Temples of Bengal'', first published 1972, reprinted 2017, pp. 1–14, 19–22. The Asiatic Society, Kolkata, {{ISBN| 978-93-81574-65-2}}.</ref> The first recorded Ratna style temple is the Brindabana-Chandra Temple, which was built by the Malla kings in 1638.<ref name="mccutchion"/> In the 17th century, This type of temple flourished with the encouragement of the [[Mallabhum kingdom|Malla kings]]. The temples built by the Malla kings in the 17th century are considered by researchers to be the best examples of ''Ratna'' architectural style.<ref name="mccutchion"/>
== Types == There are different types of temples in ''Ratna-style''. With increase in the number of storeys, the ratnas could go up to thirteen, seventeen, twenty-one, or twenty-five. 7 types of ''Ratna-style'' temples are observed as per the number of "ratnas". The three most common types are ''Eka-ratna'', ''Pancha-ratna'' and ''Naba-ratna''.<ref name="amitguha-blog">{{cite web |author1=Amit Guha |title=Terracotta Temples of Bengal |url=https://amitguha.blog/2017/11/15/terracotta-temples-of-bengal/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904091003/https://amitguha.blog/2017/11/15/terracotta-temples-of-bengal/ |access-date=7 June 2023|archive-date=2018-09-04 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Roy |first1=Pranab |title=Temple of Bengal. |date=27 January 1999 |publisher=Purvadri Publishers |location=Tamluk}}</ref> {{multiple image|perrow=3/1|total_width=360 | align = left | image_style = border:none; | image1 = Damodar temple, Kendur, Dist- Burdwan 53.jpg | caption1 =''Ek-ratna'' Damodar temple at Kendur, Purba Bardhaman district. | image2=A marvel of architecture - Shyamrai Temple.jpg | caption2 = ''Pancha-ratna'' Shyamrai temple at [[Bishnupur, Bankura|Bishnupur]], Bankura district. | image3=Kaharol dinajpur.jpg | caption3 = ''Naba-ratna'' [[Kantajew Temple]] in Dinajpur, Bangladesh. | image4= | caption4 = }} ;Eka-ratna: This type of Ratna style has a "ratna" (pinnacle) in the center of the "charchala" roof. The ''Ek-Ratna'' temple was a particular favorite of the [[Mallabhum kingdom|Malla rulers]], who built many such temples in their capital city of [[Bishnupur, Bankura|Bishnupur]]. ''Ek-ratna'' temples are rare outside Bishnupur, but where they exist they were usually built in the 17th or early 18th century, such as at Daspur in [[Midnapore|Medinipur]] and, recently discovered, the Damodar temple at Kendur in [[Purba Bardhaman district|Purba Bardhaman]].<ref name="amitguha-blog"/> ;Pancha-ratna: The temple structure is single-storied in the ''Pancha-ratna'' style. In this type of temple style the superstructure consists of a large central tower (ratna) and four smaller towers (ratna) at the four corners of the chala. Similarity is observed to the ''[[Panchayatana (temple)|Panchayatana]] temple style'' of [[North India]] (such as [[Khajuraho Group of Monuments|Khajuraho]] and Deogarh) with this layout, where the main temple is surrounded by smaller temples at the four corners of the plinth. Shyamaray Temple in Bishnupur and the monumental [[Gokulchand Temple]] in [[Gokulnagar, Bankura|Gokulnagar]] are classic examples of Pancharatna temples.<ref name="amitguha-blog"/> ;Naba-ratna: Naba-ratna temple has 9 ratnas (towers) and 2 storeys. The two storeys of the temple have a total of 8 chalas, each with 4 chalas. There are 4 ratnas (towers) in the four corners of the first storey and 4 ratnas (towers) in the four corners in second storey with a large central ratna (tower). The famous [[Dakshineswar Kali Temple|Dakshineswar Kali temple]] near [[Kolkata]] is built in ''Naba-ratna'' style. The greatest naba-ratna temple is the [[Kantajew Temple|Kantajew temple]] at Kantanagar in [[Dinajpur District, Bangladesh|Dinajpur]]. This huge and richly decorated temple was built in the early 18th century.<ref name="amitguha-blog"/> ;Other: * Trayodash-ratna: These types of temples consist of 13 ratnas. * Pancharatna-ratna: These types of temples consist of 15 ratnas. * Saptadasa-ratna: These types of temples consist of 17 ratnas. * Panchavimsati-ratna: These types of temples consist of 25 ratnas.
<gallery> File:Haneswari and Vasudev temples3.jpg|With 13 minars [[Hangseshwari temple]] has a distinct identity, at [[Bansberia]], Hooghly district File:17 pinnacled Parbatinath Temple in Raghunathpur area at Chandrakona Town In Paschim Medinipur district 13.jpg|''Saptadasa-ratna'' [[Parvatinatha Temple]] at [[Chandrakona]], Paschim Medinipur district with 17 pinnacles File:Gopalbari Temple Kalna.jpg|''Panchavimsati-ratna'' Gopalbari temple at [[Kalna City]], Purba Bardhaman district, with 25 pinnacles File:25 pinnacle Rasmancha of Narajole Rajbari in Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal 01.jpg|''Panchavimsati-ratna'' rasmancha at [[Narajole]], Paschim Medinipur district, with 25 pinnacles </gallery>
== See also == * [[Bengal temple architecture]] * [[Hindu temple architecture]]
==References== {{reflist|3}}
{{Architecture of India}}
[[Category:Hindu temple architecture]] [[Category:Bengal temple architecture]]