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Madan Mohan Temple, Bishnupur
Krishna • Bishnupur, Bankura, West Bengal
॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
The Madan Mohan Temple is among the most admired of Bishnupur’s brick shrines, built in 1694 by the Malla king Durjana Singh Deb. It follows the eka-ratna plan — a single pinnacle over a curved char-chala roof — and its facades are covered with terracotta scenes from the Hindu epics. The presiding deity is Krishna worshipped as Madan Mohan.
A single-towered Bengal temple
The Madan Mohan Temple takes the eka-ratna form: one pinnacle crowning a square sanctum roofed in the curved char-chala style that imitates a four-sided thatched hut. Built in 1694 by Durjana Singh Deb, it shows the Malla builders refining a distinctly Bengali temple type.
As with the other Bishnupur shrines, brick and terracotta replace the stone unavailable in the delta, so the architecture and its ornament are one and the same material.
Terracotta from the epics
The temple’s outer walls carry moulded scenes drawn from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and Krishna-lila. Episodes of war, exile and divine play are set out panel by panel across the facade.
The carving treats these narratives with care and movement, turning the brick surface into an illustrated retelling of the epics for worshippers who gathered before it.
Krishna as Madan Mohan
The shrine is dedicated to Krishna in his form as Madan Mohan, a name long associated with Bengal’s Vaishnava devotion. The deity has been central to Bishnupur’s religious life under the Mallas and after.
Worship here connects the temple to the wider Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition that shaped Bengal’s temple-building and music.
Visiting Madan Mohan
The temple is a protected monument and a fixed stop on the Bishnupur heritage circuit, close to the town’s other Malla-era temples.
- Location: Bishnupur, Bankura district, West Bengal
- Form: eka-ratna (single-towered) brick temple
- Built: 1694, by Durjana Singh Deb
- Deity: Krishna as Madan Mohan
- Status: ASI-protected monument
Frequently Asked Questions
Who built the Madan Mohan Temple in Bishnupur?
The Madan Mohan Temple was built in 1694 by the Malla king Durjana Singh Deb. It is one of the most admired brick temples of Bishnupur.
What architectural style is the Madan Mohan Temple?
It is an eka-ratna temple — a single pinnacle set over a curved char-chala roof above a square sanctum. This single-towered form is a classic Bengal temple type.
Which deity is worshipped at the Madan Mohan Temple?
The presiding deity is Krishna, worshipped here as Madan Mohan. The name is closely tied to Bengal’s Vaishnava devotion.
What do the terracotta panels depict?
The facades carry terracotta scenes from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and Krishna-lila. These narrative panels make the outer walls an illustrated account of the epics.
Is the Madan Mohan Temple a protected monument?
Yes. It is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India and is part of the Bishnupur group of heritage temples.
Where is the Madan Mohan Temple located?
It is in Bishnupur, Bankura district, West Bengal, within easy reach of the town’s other Malla-era brick temples.
॥ राधे राधे ॥ • Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Deity | Krishna (Madan Mohan) |
| Type | Eka-ratna terracotta temple |
| Built | 1694 |
| Patron | Durjana Singh Deb (Malla) |
| Material | Brick and terracotta |
| Roof | Char-chala with one pinnacle |
| Protection | ASI monument |
| Location | Bishnupur, Bankura |