Terracotta - the lost craftsmanship of Bengal
Terracotta temples of Bengal are a tradition of the medieval period which attained prominence during the 13 th and 14 th century. Origin- With the rise of Bhakti and Sufi movements common people's relation with the worshipped deities became somewhat of a personal kinship. Thus with gradual decrease in Bhramanical supremacy we find Gods and Goddesses being nurtured as domestic members; Gopal as a playful child, Krishna as a friend, Durga, Laxmi and Saraswati as daughters and Shiva as the whimsical son-in law. Landlords started building these temples primarily for 3 reasons – as status symbol, for religious purposes particularly to promote the concept of Ram Rajya and as community spaces where elders narrated traditional stories. The making - Terracotta artisans flourished as stone was a scarcity in the alluvial plains of Southern Bengal. A mixture of mud and hay was put into designed moulds and then hardened as burnt bricks to form the terracotta plaques. The engravings we