Photo 1002/1(4)

Inscription: Numbered '9.B' in the negative

Genre: Architectural Photography

Described in 'List of Ancient Monuments in Bengal. Revised and corrected up to 31st August 1895' (Calcutta, 1896), pp. 20-21:

'The temple is of stone, with later brick additions in the shape of arches running along the front; the old stone mouldings of the basement are boldly cut and rather fine though quite plain. The temple was built of laterite, but has had sandstone and brick additions made to it. There are traces of three different restorations or repairs. The first was a restoration of the upper portion, which had apparently fallen down. In the restoration, the outline of the tower and general appearance of the temple, before its dilapidation, appears to have been entirely ignored, and a new design adopted. After this, repairs on a small scale were carried out, of which traces are to be seen in various patchy portions of brick and mortar; lastly, a series of brick arches was added in front of the temple. The temple is uninscribed, but the stone portions appear to belong to the 16th century A.D.

The object of worship inside is a lingam, which is said to have thrust itself up through the ground. Several pieces of sculpture, both broken and sound, and almost all Brahmanical, lie in groups on platforms outside, none of any special interest and none inscribed.'

See also J. D. Beglar, 'Report of a tour through the Bengal provinces...' (A.S.I. Vol. VIII, Calcutta, 1878), pp. 200: 'Two miles south-east of Bankura, on th eleft bank of the Darikeswara River, is the small village and temple of Ekteswar; the temple is remarkable in its way; the mouldings of the basement are the boldest and finest of any I have seen, though quite plain; the temple was built of laterite, but has had sandstone and brick additions made to it since...'