THE TEMPLES IN MIDNAPORE

Chandrakona, a village in the ghatal sub division has a large number of important temples, which will be described at some details. Chandrakona fully illustrate that circumstances determine the vicissitudes of places also. Chandrakona was a prosperous town divided into a number of bazaars like bhayer bazaar, Khirki bazaar, Bara bazaar, Nutan bazaar, Samadhi bazaar etc.

The markets have all disappeared but the names linger.  The former importance of the place, which is now only, a village is shown by the old relics, a few old institutions like asthals, three forts, namely, Lalgarh, Ramgarh and Raghunathgarh in utter ruins and a group of temples kept up by the Burdwan Raj.

Probably no other village in Midnapore district has more of traditions than Chandrakona. It is said that the name of Chandrakona is derived from Chandraketu, the raja of the place who was the contemporary of the Pandavas. There are stories about the Rajas and that some of the Rains had sacrificed their life after going through Jaharbrata. There is still a Jahar-Puskarini (tank).

It is at Chandrakona that we find a clear impact of Orissan culture not only in the temple types but also in the language, customs and manners. The Bagri princes and the Chandrakona princely house were closely connected and it is probable that the Chandrakona princely house was one of the satraps of the Bishnupur Malla kings.

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