Name: Jora Shiv Mandir
Address: Jessore - Jenaidah Hwy, Jessore, Bangladesh, BD

Jora Shiv Mandir is a hindu temple, located at Jessore - Jenaidah Hwy, Jessore, Bangladesh. Visit their website www.faceofbangla.com for more detailed information.

Location :

Jessore - Jenaidah Hwy, Jessore

Contacts :

Added by Jopie, at 16 November 2014

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Md.Sahed Ali

24 August 2019

Symbol of old heritage of Jashore
Ashif Hossain Rafat

09 July 2019

So many memories. Went to a pre cadet school adjacent to this.
Topu Saiful

06 June 2019

Visiting Jessore is always a fantastic journey; not only because of the bountiful nuances of glorious history it encompasses but because, next to Rajshahi, it houses so many intriguing ancient historical sites. That said Jessore was also the first district of Bangladesh to be liberated from Pakistani forces on the 07th of December 1971. But that is not the focus here. Near the town of Jessore, there is a suburb called Chanchra and in there lays a Jora Shiv Temple at Murali in almost dilapidated condition. That temple is a tiny treasure trove of mythological creatures that spawn primarily the Hindu mythology preserved magnificently over the ages, and knowing its history only heightens its significance. Furthermore, getting there from Dhaka is not a big hassle and the can be done within a span of give and take five hours which makes it a must see for those interested in our ancient history.

As the name says, there are two almost identical Shiv temples in the location (Jora, meaning a pair) and the temple themselves are roughly 27 feet in height – not that impressive. However, what are impressive lies in the doorway of the first temple; the arch of the doorway is engraved in repetitive motifs and a little above it lies engraved the head of a mythical creature, with its head shaped like an elephant and teeth like that of a crocodile. Two heads are engraved in symmetry above two ends of the archway and jumping from the two heads are two lions in leap towards a fruit tree, their mouths perched open with a fruit clasped in their teeth. Furthermore, roughly 7-8 feet above the lions lie plastered a small almost destroyed image with four arms which could either represent the Hindu god Shiv, or Kali (Shiv’s destructive form is known as Kali; Shiv being the destroyer of the world). Above the plastered image lie a row of images of humans and one fruit, with the two heads of the mythical creature at two ends of the row as if engulfing the humans.

The Sea Monster

I was amazed the first time I saw the temple. Most famous temples are engraved with stories from the Mahabharata or the Ramayana, such as the Kantajee temple or the Govinda temple, but this was a first I encountered in Bangladesh intricately decorated solely based on creature mythology. The elephant head with teeth of a crocodile was undoubtedly that of a makara. Locals address it as the mokkor and claim it to be a sea monster still lurking in the waters of our part of the world – our very own lochness monster you may say – and some even claimed that their forefathers had seen it. I do not know about the sightings but they were at least partially right.

The makara has appeared in Indian and Buddhist art from ancient times: on temple pots, on rare pre-Kusana (1stcentury AD, in the region that is now Afghanistan) coins, on temple walls, as sculptured waterspout. The makara is usually regarded as a soma animal: an emblem of the waters, the plants, the entire vegetal substratum of life; and in this connection it is thought to serve its primary artistic function – as the vehicle of the river goddess Ganga and the sea god Varuna, while representing the bringer of life. Yet, interestingly, its acknowledged prototype is the crocodile, an animal that from the beginnings of Indian civilization has been an object of fear and a symbol of the unknown sea. More intriguingly, the symbol sprouts on Shiv temples all over South Asia. The key lies in the makara taking the form of a crocodile.

Before moving forward it is important to note that the makara is depicted is many forms: in animal forms of elephant or crocodile or stag or deer, and in hind part as aquatic creature, as a fish tail or also as seal; sometimes, even a peacock tail is depicted. The Jora Shiv Temple is certainly not the only place in Bangladesh where the makara symbol has appeared, although its elephant form seems to be more dominant here. While the elephant form can also be found in a sculpture in Sonargaon, (which was once a Hindu settlement) the crocodile form can be seen in a single remaining terracotta plaque at the
Rajib Chakrabarty

02 June 2019

The ancient Hindu Shiva temple is full of natural beauty. This is very old historical Temple in this area for Hindu religious beliefs. Two Shiva temples are connected together, hence its name is Shiva Mandir.
Aman Khondokar

30 April 2019

It's full of natural beauty.I like it 😍😍😍
Mirza Rashed Nawaz

17 February 2018

Very good architecture view.well maintained
Probir Kumar Goshwami

11 February 2018

Shiva temple with a nice architecture view. Located on the Monihar road.
Natrium Ahad

01 August 2017

It's a Temple of Lord Shiva
Md. Iman Ali Sardar

06 July 2017

Nice temple.
Md Selim Miah

06 July 2017

Nice Temple
Sajal Sarkar

22 June 2017

Nice temple
Exceptional Rectifier

02 February 2017

ok
Mirshad Khan

03 December 2016

Nice environment
Syed Refaquat Ibna Rajowan

21 March 2016

Ancient Hindu Temple..

#thenewscompany #doinikbarta #ibangla #rrajowan #enewsbdpress #ibanglabd #techead #syedrezwanali #rezwanbir
Md. Merajul Islam

29 February 2016

This is a temple known as Shiv Mondir. It is situated in Muroli. People use this place for worship specially the Hindus. There is a club beside the temple called Surjo Shango Club.
Sakib Hassan

23 November 2014

L .Market bokchar jessore