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Shri Radha Raman Temple of Kanchipur
The temple is situated at Kanchipur, at the old, Langthabal
place on hill ridge near the present Manipur University campus.
It was dedicated by Maharaj Churachand in the year 1917 AD. It is
not in use now. The temple structure is raised on a square pedestal. It
is facing south. In front there are five steps of staircases, having steps
from three sides. The temple is two celled. The pradakshna path is approachable
by front staircases from the south and from there flying steps from the
west. The outer jacket is arranged in columns with arcades. The sanctum
cube of the outer jacket is raised to the cornice above which is
the first railing.
On each corner the railing is provided with a mini-temple, the sala. The
first railing covers the terrace above the pradakshna path. The internal
sanctum cube ends at the terrace level and then the octagonal structure
with eight walls is raised. It appears as the octagonal core on the terrace
of the temple. It carriers second railing with arches. The eight pillars,
one each at the corner of the railing, support the dome arches which convergent
the base of the crown at the top. The parabolic ridges of the dome are
distinctively visible on the surface of the dome from above. The top crown
ends with a globulous pinnacle.
Towards the east is a window with arch.
Internally the octagonal structure is
seen raised on the four walls of the sanctum cube. The structure with eight
walls is also visible with its dome's parabolic walls in the roof. The
northern wall, internally has got a raised rostrum, probably for the
installation of the deity. The whole structure is made of brick and thereafter given a cement coating.
Some designs are seen drawn on the walls. It is based on Nagra style. The temple is the example of the proliferation of the Vaishnavite cult.
Radha
Raman is another name of Lord Krishna. The structure is near the old Langthabal
palace, in fact a temple of the royal family at the capital. It had royal
patronage. |
