MANKAR - MANKESWAR SHIVA MANDIR

The Burdwan district of Bengal is the citadel of several religious sects, apart from Hinduism in its multifarious aspects, like Saivism, Sakteism, Vaishnavism etc. There were built hundreds and hundreds of temples for Saivate gods, and other most adorable gods of Hindu pantheon. The villages of Amaragarh, Barakar and Mankar housed number of Sivaalayas in the past; but all of them except Dugdheswar Siva Mandir, Mankeshwar Mahadev Mandir and Shivakya Devi Mandir are in ruins. And the existing ones also are not maintained, as it was in their heyday.

Mankar, a village dominated by the Brahmins in the past has a few temples dedicated to Siva and Sakti, going by the local names of Mankeshwar Shiva and Ananda Mayee Sakti. The object of worship is, of course, linga and the temples like their counter elsewhere has mandaps, mahamandaps, antaralas etc. Among the Saivate deities adorning the minishrines the images of Ganesh takes precedence over others. Though times changed, traditions yielded to foreign impact, these groups of temples are receiving public worship regularly, and the periodical festivals are carried on with devotion due.

These temple are accessible by four wheelers from Burdwan and Dhanbad towns, commanding all facilities.

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