# Ratna style

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Style of a Hindu temple

*Ek-ratna* Ramchandraji temple at [Guptipara](/source/Guptipara), Hooghly district.

***Ratna Style*** ([Bengali](/source/Bengali_language): রত্ন শিল্পরীতি) is a style of [Bengal temple architecture](/source/Bengal_temple_architecture), that originated in [Bengal](/source/Bengal) from the 15th to 16th centuries, under the [Mallabhum kingdom](/source/Mallabhum_kingdom) (also called Malla dynasty).[1] Originating as a regional style in [Hindu temple architecture](/source/Hindu_temple_architecture). It is an extended style of the [*Chala* temple](/source/Chala_Style).[2] The special feature of *Ratna-style* temples is the curved cornice of the [*chala*](/source/Chala_Style).

*Ratna-style* temples were built all over [Bengal](/source/Bengal). But [most of the temples](/source/List_of_temples_in_Bishnupur) are found in the city of [Bishnupur](/source/Bishnupur%2C_Bankura). In the present day, the temples are now located in two separate national territories: the Indian states of [West Bengal](/source/West_Bengal) and [Tripura](/source/Tripura), and [Bangladesh](/source/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](/source/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.[3] The first recorded Ratna style temple is the Brindabana-Chandra Temple, which was built by the Malla kings in 1638.[3] In the 17th century, This type of temple flourished with the encouragement of the [Malla kings](/source/Mallabhum_kingdom). The temples built by the Malla kings in the 17th century are considered by researchers to be the best examples of *Ratna* architectural style.[3]

## 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*.[4][5]

*Ek-ratna* Damodar temple at Kendur, Purba Bardhaman district.

*Pancha-ratna* Shyamrai temple at [Bishnupur](/source/Bishnupur%2C_Bankura), Bankura district.

*Naba-ratna* [Kantajew Temple](/source/Kantajew_Temple) in Dinajpur, Bangladesh.

**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 [Malla rulers](/source/Mallabhum_kingdom), who built many such temples in their capital city of [Bishnupur](/source/Bishnupur%2C_Bankura). *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 [Medinipur](/source/Midnapore) and, recently discovered, the Damodar temple at Kendur in [Purba Bardhaman](/source/Purba_Bardhaman_district).[4]

**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](/source/Panchayatana_(temple)) temple style* of [North India](/source/North_India) (such as [Khajuraho](/source/Khajuraho_Group_of_Monuments) 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](/source/Gokulchand_Temple) in [Gokulnagar](/source/Gokulnagar%2C_Bankura) are classic examples of Pancharatna temples.[4]

**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](/source/Dakshineswar_Kali_Temple) near [Kolkata](/source/Kolkata) is built in *Naba-ratna* style. The greatest naba-ratna temple is the [Kantajew temple](/source/Kantajew_Temple) at Kantanagar in [Dinajpur](/source/Dinajpur_District%2C_Bangladesh). This huge and richly decorated temple was built in the early 18th century.[4]

**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.

		- With 13 minars [Hangseshwari temple](/source/Hangseshwari_temple) has a distinct identity, at [Bansberia](/source/Bansberia), Hooghly district

		- *Saptadasa-ratna* [Parvatinatha Temple](/source/Parvatinatha_Temple) at [Chandrakona](/source/Chandrakona), Paschim Medinipur district with 17 pinnacles

		- *Panchavimsati-ratna* Gopalbari temple at [Kalna City](/source/Kalna_City), Purba Bardhaman district, with 25 pinnacles

		- *Panchavimsati-ratna* rasmancha at [Narajole](/source/Narajole), Paschim Medinipur district, with 25 pinnacles

## See also

- [Bengal temple architecture](/source/Bengal_temple_architecture)

- [Hindu temple architecture](/source/Hindu_temple_architecture)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Akhter, Nasreen. ["Temple architecture"](http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Temple_Architecture). Banglapedia. Retrieved 7 June 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Ratna-style-temples-with-an-ambulatory_2-0)** Becker-Ritterspach, Raimund Otto Artur (2016). [*Ratna style Temples with an Ambulatory: Selected temple concepts in Bengal and the Kathmandu Valley*](https://himalbooks.com/product/ratna-style-temples-with-an-ambulatory-selected-temple-concepts-in-bengal-and-the-kathmandu-valley/) (First ed.). Kathmandu, Nepal: Himal Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9789937597296](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9789937597296). Retrieved 7 June 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-mccutchion_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-mccutchion_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-mccutchion_3-2) McCutchion, David J., *Late Mediaeval Temples of Bengal*, first published 1972, reprinted 2017, pp. 1–14, 19–22. The Asiatic Society, Kolkata, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-93-81574-65-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-93-81574-65-2).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-amitguha-blog_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-amitguha-blog_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-amitguha-blog_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-amitguha-blog_4-3) Amit Guha. ["Terracotta Temples of Bengal"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180904091003/https://amitguha.blog/2017/11/15/terracotta-temples-of-bengal/). Archived from [the original](https://amitguha.blog/2017/11/15/terracotta-temples-of-bengal/) on 2018-09-04. Retrieved 7 June 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Roy, Pranab (27 January 1999). *Temple of Bengal*. Tamluk: Purvadri Publishers.

v t e Architecture of India Types Ancient Indian Assam Bengal Chala Ratna Buddhist Dzong Harappan Hindu-northern Nagara Kalinga Māru-Gurjara Shikhara Bhumija Latina Sekhari Hemadpanti Meitei Nilachal Rock-cut Hindu-southern Dravidian Badami Chalukya Chalukya Hoysala Kadamba Thantra-Samuchayam/Shilparatnam Vijayanagara Indo-Islamic Mughal Akbari Sharqi Qutb Shahi Indo-Saracenic Jain Sikh By state Bengal Gujarat Karnataka Kerala Maharashtra Odisha Rajasthan Tamil Nadu Uttarakhand Uttar Pradesh Telangana By city Bhubaneswar Chennai Delhi Hyderabad Jaipur Lucknow Mumbai Category:Architecture in India

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