Why Were Temples Built in Bengal? Class 7 Q&A Explained

This question is from Chapter 9: The Making of Regional Cultures of the NCERT Class 7 History textbook (Our Pasts – II). It is a commonly asked question in school exams and covers an important part of Bengal's cultural and social history.

Why Were Temples Built in Bengal: Direct Answer

Temples were built in Bengal by individuals or groups to house local deities and to demonstrate their power and wealth. Many of the small brick-and-terracotta temples in Bengal were built with the help of several "low" social groups, such as the Kolu (oil pressers) and the Kansari (bell-metal workers). When local deities, once worshipped in simple village huts, gained the recognition of the Brahmanas, their images began to be housed in temples.

Why Were Temples Built in Bengal: Explained

As the European trading companies introduced many new economic opportunities in Bengal, this improved the social and economic status of many families. Therefore, they proclaimed their status through the construction of temples.

Reason 1: To House Local Deities Recognised by Brahmanas

The most important religious reason for building temples in Bengal was the elevation of local village deities. Local deities once worshipped in simple village huts were now gaining recognition from the Brahmanas. This recognition shifted them from the thatched huts to brick-built temples. In other words, when the Brahmanas accepted a local deity as worthy of worship, it needed a proper structure. That structure was a temple. This was a significant religious and social moment: a village deity going from a simple thatched hut to a brick-and-terracotta temple.

Reason 2: To Demonstrate Power and Proclaim Piety

Temples and other religious structures were often built by individuals or groups who were becoming powerful, to demonstrate their power and proclaim their piety. Building a temple was not just a religious act, but it was also a political and social statement. Powerful individuals, landlords, and local rulers used temple construction to show their wealth, authority, and devotion to God. A bigger, more beautiful temple meant a more powerful and respected patron.

Reason 3: New Economic Opportunities by European Trading Companies

Many of the modest brick and terracotta temples in Bengal were built with the support of several "low" social groups, such as the Kolu (oil pressers) and the Kansari (bell-metal workers). The coming of the European trading companies created new economic opportunities; many families belonging to these social groups took advantage of these opportunities. As their social and economic position improved, they demonstrated their status by constructing temples.

When Did Temple Building Happen in Bengal?

Bengal witnessed a temple-building spree from the late fifteenth century, which culminated in the nineteenth century. This means the temple-building activity in Bengal stretched over several centuries, starting around the 1400s and continuing right up to the 1800s. It was not a single event but a long, gradual process shaped by religious, social, and economic changes.

What Did These Temples Look Like? (Architectural Features)

The temples began to copy the double-roofed (dochala) or four-roofed (chauchala) structure of the thatched huts. This led to the evolution of the typical Bengali style in temple architecture. Temples were usually built on a square platform with a relatively plain interior, but the outer walls of many temples were decorated with paintings, ornamental tiles, or terracotta tablets. In some temples, particularly in Vishnupur, in the Bankura district of West Bengal, such decorations reached a high degree of excellence.

Key Terms to Remember

Dochala: Double-roofed style of Bengali temple architecture, copied from thatched village huts.
Chauchala: Four-roofed style of Bengali temple architecture; a more complex version where four triangular roofs converge at a curved line or point.
Kolu: Oil pressers; one of the "low" social groups that helped build temples in Bengal.
Kansari: Bell-metal workers; another "low" social group involved in temple building.
Terracotta: Baked clay used to make tiles and tablets that decorated the outer walls of Bengali temples.
Vishnupur: A town in the Bankura district of West Bengal, famous for its exceptional terracotta temple decorations.

Quick Revision Points for Exam

Temple building in Bengal began from the late 15th century and continued until the 19th century.
The primary reason was to house local deities that had gained recognition from the Brahmanas.
These deities were earlier worshipped in simple thatched huts in villages.
Temples were also built to demonstrate power and proclaim piety.
The arrival of European trading companies created new wealth for lower social groups like the Kolu and the Kansari.
These groups used their new wealth to build temples and assert their improved social status.
Bengali temples copied the dochala (double-roofed) and chauchala (four-roofed) style of thatched huts.
Temples were built on a square platform with plain interiors but decorated outer walls.
The best terracotta temple decorations are found at Vishnupur, Bankura district, West Bengal.