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Gopal Singha Dev I was the fifty-fifth
In 1726 Gopal Singha Dev established a complex consisting of one small and two big temples known as the Jor Mandir Group of Temples. The temple situated in the north-western corner has an idol of
Raja
Raja (; from , IAST ') is a noble or royal Sanskrit title historically used by some Indian subcontinent, Indian rulers and monarchs and highest-ranking nobles. The title was historically used in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
T ...
of Mallabhum
Mallabhum (The country originally known as Mallabhoom or Mallabani or Bishnupur kingdom) was the kingdom ruled by the Malla kings of Bishnupur, primarily in the present Bankura district in Indian state of West Bengal.
History
Territory of th ...
. He ruled from 1712 to 1748.Malabhum, Bishnupur-Chandra, Manoranjan; 2004; Kolkata. Deys Publishing
Midnapore Raj
The Rajas of Mallabhum were an independent kingdom, not subject to the authority of the Nawabs. In 1747, King Gopal Singh Malla of Mallabhum launched an attack on Karnagarh. However, with the blessings of Mahamaya, Jasomanta Singh led the forces of Karnagarh to a victorious defeat of Mallabhum's army. This victory played a key role in securing Karnagarh's sovereignty and reinforcing its strength in the region.Chandra, Manoranjan,''Mallabum Bishnupur '', ,1957 edition, page 190 ,Mitra & Ghosh Publishers Pvt Ltd 10 Shyamacharan De Street, Kolkata 700 017.Krishnamangal Kavy
Gopal Singh authored the ambitious Krishnamangal Kavy. The Malla rulers contributed to the dissemination of Vaishnava literature by personally copying local poetry collections and translating key Vaishnava texts into Bengali, making them accessible to the growing Vaishnava community they supported. Gopal Singh, for instance, transcribed the central Gaudiya Vaishnava text, the Chaitanya Charitamrita. Many of these manuscripts, adorned with finely painted wooden covers, are preserved in the Vishnupur Sahitya Parishad. As a result, Vishnupur became a significant hub for poetry, playing a crucial role in preserving and promoting the theological principles and unique rituals of the movement that had flourished in Vrindavan.Transformation of Mallabhum
The transformation of the Malla-ruled territory into Vishnupur, a center dedicated to Vishnu and Krishna, was facilitated through the systematic renaming and consecration of the region. Villages surrounding the capital were incorporated into this sacred landscape, known as "Brajamandala," and given names such as Gokulnagar, Yadavanagar, and Vasudevpur. This process mirrored similar symbolic incorporations seen in places like Benares, where major pilgrimage sites were integrated to establish a broader religious center.Mallabhum temples
Jor Mandir Group of Temples
In 1726 Gopal Singha Dev established a complex consisting of one small and two big temples known as the Jor Mandir Group of Temples. The temple situated in the north-western corner has an idol of Narayana
Narayana (, ) is one of the forms and epithets of Vishnu. In this form, the deity is depicted in yogic slumber under the celestial waters, symbolising the masculine principle and associated with his role of creation. He is also known as Pu ...
. The temple standing in the center is extensively decorated.
References
Kings of Mallabhum 18th-century Indian monarchs Mallabhum temples {{India-royal-stub