Lord Nrusimha of Nrusinghanath
Panchu Pandav Ghat of Nrusinghanath
Lion Gate of Nrusinghanath
Lord Nrusingha with Hiranya Kasyapu
Once upon a time the Nrusinghanath area (Nrusinghanath Melchhamunda Ganiapali Ong velly) was a great seat of learning during the Buddhist period Historians believe that prior to the establishment of Vaishavism at Nrusinghanath, here there was a famous Buddhist Monastery run by Buddhist scholar Nagarjuna.
This Buddhist Bihar is said to have been developed during the medieval period and in this center of learning Buddhist and Hindus philosophies were taught. Historians have also interpreted the account of Chinese Piligrim Hiuen-Tsang in the line to prove that his description of Po-lo-mo-lo-ki-ki is Parimala giri which is no other place than famous Gandhamardhan Hills. The four stone pillars inside the Jagamohan also exhibit the finest example of Buddhist mannerism art. There pillar belong to 6th century A.C.
Although the place has remained a place of attraction for the Hindu piligrims there was no detail discussion about the temple and its exotic sculptures. Only reference have been made in Kosalanda Kavyam”. Before the establishment of the British rule, an European traveler Mr. Leckie had travelled the Borasambar area, but unfortunately, he could not visit the temple. Later on the place found minor place in the reports of (some of the British Officers. But towards the end of) 19th century Mr. J.D. Beglar visited the temple and made an exhaustive study of the art and architecture of the temple. Although Mr. Beglar was not allowed to enter inside the temple his study revealed the exquisite art and architecture of the temple to the outside world. He believed that the temple was built in the Khujraho style and once very elaborately sculptured inside and out, but having fallen into decay, has been repaired with a liberal allowance of plaster, which covers up everything. After the publication of this report it attracted the attention of Archaeologists and its architecture was studied by the famous archaelogist G.R. Bhandarkar and his report in detail was published in Archaeological Survey of India (1904-05). Bhandarkar’s opinion is that the temple had originally three doors ways, facing the east, north and south, but now only the first two remains, the third being blocked up the replaced with masonary work, thus giving an uncouth and unsymmetrical shape to the right wall. The door frames of the temple are the stone of dark colour and beautifully carved with pair of musicians, Gaja Laxmi floral ornamentation Siva, Ganga on a crocodile, Yamuna on a tortoise. In the lintel above the east door we have the Nava-Graha. Near this door frame there is a standing image of a warrior with hand floded and with a sword. Bhandarkar writes Judging from analogous instances this seems to have been a figure of the personage who was principally connected with either the construction or the restoration of the temple”. In 1964 another statue was discovered by Prof. N.K. Sahu. He has identified the two statues with that of Vaijal Dev , the Raja of Patna, who eracted the temple. Added to these one can find several elegantly carved status of Laxmi. Trivikram, Vamana, Bali Narasingha and Varaha.
Courtesy : Prof. Narayan Pruseth