User Rating:  / 0

Shri Govindjee Temple of Old Palace Kangla (Manipur)

 

 

 

The temple is situated in the old Kangla palace area, now under the state government of Manipur. It was built during the time of king Narasingh in 1847 A.D. As a result of the earthquake of March 1868, the structure collapsed. It was then reconstructed by king Chandra Kirti Singh in 1869 A.D. At present the Pakhangba, the deity connected with the royal family clan of Ningthauja is worshipped in this temple.

The temple is built of brick and is on a raised pedestal. It has two cells facing east and the façade carries a verandah with a sturdy system of pillars which support the beam of brick – made cornice. Above the cornice is the first railing just above the verandah having mini – shrines with salas on each corner. The outer jacked wall on all sides is raised up to the cornice and the second railing having mini –shrines with one sala each at the corners and two arch door openings in the railing connect the verandah and pradakshna terrace. The sanctum cube wall is raised right up to the cornice and then the third railing is made which is a replica of the first and second railings. It also contains one sala each at the corners. From the base of the railings starts the dome, the arches of which converge at the base of the rectangular flat corner on the top.

 

Architecturally, it shows the parabolic structure of the dome in the Bengal style and the salas are in a typical Hindu style. The temple has a rectangular base and on the top, it culminates in a rectangular crown over the dome. The railing decorations are in the Islamic style and the temple can be considered as an amalgamation of Hindu and Islamic archtypes. The artistic designs in the form of floral motifs on the walls are now worn out. The temple is a monumental evidence of the royal patronage of Vaishnav temple in Manipur.