Nature is standing in the light fog of Poush. The resh of winter has not yet merged. At that time we boarded the car from Khulna to Jessore. Get off in the middle; In the port city of Nawapara. The goal is of course further away; Abhaynagar, a secluded village in Jessore district. We are going in search of the memory of a sad princess.
Abhaynagar is an important police station in Jessore district. Abhaynagar is a common village like other five villages in Bangladesh. The village is located on the banks of the river Bhairab. If we want to know how this simple Abhaynagar became one of the earliest police stations in Bangladesh during the British rule, we have to go back a few hundred years.
Pratapaditya, the king of the mighty Jessore kingdom, was defeated and taken prisoner in a battle with the Mughals. As a result, the members of the royal family scattered here and there in search of fortune. One of them took place in Chachra area of Jessore. Their successor is Raja Nilkantha Roy. He returned his fortune by hard work. He earned the respect of all with his wealth and strength.
A daughter was born by lighting the house of this Nilakantha Roy. The father named his daughter Abhaya. At that time a critical period was going on in Bengal. Hundreds of rivers and canals spread like a net in this region. Further south, the impenetrable Sundarbans. Taking this opportunity, the mighty Harmad pirates brutally tortured the people of this area. In addition to looting wealth, he would seize women and children and sell them as slaves. King Nilakantha Roy took initiative to suppress them. Bhatpara is a very ancient Hindu pilgrimage site on the banks of the river Bhairab. He built a fort on the bank of the river next to Bhatpara. Then the family moved here from the capital Chachra.
Princess Abhaya began to grow up here. As an adult, Abhayar's marriage was arranged with Nilambar Roy, a member of the Narail Zamindar dynasty, a very influential zamindar of the time. Nilambar Roy died after a short illness. Princess Abhaya became a widow. He was a worshiper of Shaiva i.e. Mahadev Shiva. He requested his father to spend the rest of his life worshiping Mahadev.
Nilkantha Roy heard his daughter's wish and built a temple for her near the palace. He built 11 Shiva temples on 60 acres of land, not one or two. The city was named after his daughter Abhaynagar, which later became known as Abhaynagar. The installation is still standing on the banks of the river Bhairab. This is not only a beautiful temple, there are so many Shiva temples in the same place nowhere else in Bangladesh.
We are running in that Abhaynagar. I will look around at the temple built by Nilakantha Roy. I will try to feel the almost lost history. I got off the bus at Nurbagh in Nawapara. Then I crossed the river Bhairab in a ferry boat and went to the other side. From here one can get an engine driven van, a car known locally as a moon car, or a rented motorcycle. The two of us are together. I fixed a motorcycle and sat on it. Motorcycles rushed along the road with us.
If you want to reach the temple premises, you have to go to Singari Bazaar. From there you have to reach Bhatpara Bazaar and follow the Bhairab river. The brick paved road along the banks of the Bhairab will take you to the desired destination. But fate was not so auspicious for us. I went to Bhatpara market and saw the incident. Bricks have been dug to pave the road. It is impossible to ride a motorcycle on this road. Our faces turned black. Even after coming so far, do you have to go back now? There is a way. There is a road through Bhatpara village. I ran that way.
Jessore is one of the highest districts of Bangladesh. In addition to paddy fields, the area also features bamboo, cane, coconut and betel gardens. Inside the garden are the shrubs of Anshyaora, Amjum, Dochunti and wild henna. Everything is like an impenetrable jungle. We are moving forward through the dirt road inside the dense bamboo garden. Bamboo bushes bent towards the road from both sides. Like a natural tunnel. And such an impenetrable dense jungle that I would not be surprised if a fox called from the side this afternoon.
That canopy seems to have descended on the road this afternoon. A dirt road through it. A little further on, the road split in two and went in both directions. After a while, after a while, it was seen again in three parts. Like a maze. I stumbled into that labyrinth and went ahead. The motorcycle went on the wrong road a dozen times, stopped fifteen more times and asked people a hundred times. When I arrived, the clock struck two.
After paying the rent and not setting foot on the temple premises, a fascination surrounded us. The color of the temple walls is a little reddish. The sun is tilted to the west. The temples look more red in its red light. The direction manifested in an unnatural beauty.
The temple was built in 1745-64. The temple was built of limestone and bricks followed during the British period. The shape of the brick is thin and square. The bricks are covered with lime-surkey coating. A total of eight temples, four in each in the east and west rows.
There are two temples on either side of the south entrance. The main temple is on the west side. Eleven temples in all. Each temple faces the courtyard in the middle. The main temple is 24 feet 4 inches long and 22 feet 3 inches wide. The width of the walls is 3 feet 4 inches.
Each temple used to have a Shivling, which was later stolen. Now only a Shivling remains in the main temple. Outside the temple, on the south side, is the main entrance to the temple complex. Each temple has arched entrances and entrances, curved and angled cornices. And there is impeccable artwork. It has many more motifs including lotus.
The specialty of the temple is that it is built in the local style. It bears witness to the fact that high quality architecture was present in Bengal at that time. The roofs are made up of vertical domes. That is, the two-tiered roof is round inside and built in a shed style. All the temples are built with local materials, styles and skills.
The temple was once surrounded by a wall. It still has its mark. There was a pond in the north-west corner. Now it is in the hands of the occupiers. And the palace? Drinking waste there now!
King Nilakantha Roy donated two hundred bighas of tax-free land for each temple. The cost of the temple used to come from this land. After the offerings were distributed to the devotees after the enjoyment of the temple, the offerings were sent to the homes of the worshiping Brahmins. After partition, many members of the local Hindu community migrated to India. Most of those who remained during the war of independence fled the country again. There is still daily worship in the big temple.
As we looked around, a priestess appeared for the midday worship. He belongs to the local Barui community. Their family has been worshiping here for the last sixty years. Talking to him, I came to know that the temples had been in a dilapidated condition for many years.
In 2014, the Department of Archeology of Bangladesh started the first phase of renovation work, which was completed in 2017. As a result of these reforms, this beautiful structure has been saved from destruction for the time being.
When the renovation work is completed, everyone hopes that it will get back its unique look. This immaculate setting and the transparent Bhairab river next to it can be an excellent attraction for tourism. That is why the government needs a plan.
It's getting late. We left for home. What is left behind is a dark temple of many memories that survived the obstacles of time. The temple that was set up to shelter a princess's own adored deity after losing everything! Everyone is lost today! Only the temple survives! This is the policy of tomorrow! Man is lost, his fame survives.
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I want to trave for 2nd time .When I was 10 i i traveled .