Ghanashyam House

Ghanashyam House or Nati Gosain dol is an early 18th-century brick monument built during the reign of the king Rudra Singha dedicated to the architect Ghanashyam.[1] This monument is situated on the west bank of Joysagar Tank. It is 4 km away from Sivasagar town towards west.

Ghanashyam House
Ghanashyam house
General information
Architectural styleHybrid
LocationSivasagar, Assam, India
Coordinates26.9503°N 94.6182°E / 26.9503; 94.6182
Construction startedearly 18th-century
Technical details
Structural systemBricks and Indigenous type of cement
Design and construction
Main contractorRudra Singha

Architecture and history

It was constructed by one Ghanasyamuddin Khanikar later renamed as Ghanashyam, an architect from Bengal or Cooch Behar who was brought by king Rudra Singha, he entrusted him with the duty of designing the city of Rangpur.[2] It is believed that Ghanashyam was earlier a Muslim who was converted to Hinduism. As a result of Ghanashyam's influence, this monument has mixture of Islamic architectural elements as well as Hindu architectural elements. The temple resembles a Bengal ekaratha structure but its cells contain a typical mihrab found in mosques. Islamic architectural influence can be heavily noticed in the architecture of this building.[3][4]

The temple is enriched with beautiful terracotta plaques depicting Lingas, scenes of Ramayana, avatars of gods, floral and geometrical designs. It also depicts mythical animals, hunting scenes, and demons. The temple has slightly bent due to previous earthquakes. The temples contain three arched gatehouses, with its flat roof crowned with a row of battlements is Islamic in outlook.

The temple for some reasons is also known as Nati-Gosain dol.[5][6] It is also stated that according to some theories, this temple was built by Rajeswar Singha for the grandson of Parvatiya Gosain (Krishnaram Bhattacharya), who was the royal preceptor of Ahom Kings while some other place it to the reign of Pramatta Singha.[7]

Notes
  1. (Konwar 2018:44)
  2. "Ghanashyam, the artisan from Bengal employed to construct the Ranghar and the Kareng of Rangpur city, was put to death after being caught red handed with a map of the city concealed between two layers of a water pot." (Gogoi 2017:71)
  3. "Ghanashyam's House,Joysagar". Guwahati Circle Archeological Survey of India.
  4. "Soulful Sivasagar". INDIAN CULTURE. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  5. As Siva Singha was a disciple of Parvotiya Gosain, he took the charge of making ‘Daul’ for Nati Gosain who was supposed to be the grandson of Parbotia Gosain. The date of the construction of this temple is not exactly mentioned early chronicles. (Konwar 2018:45)
  6. (Biswas 2011:49)
  7. "Ghanashyam House | Sivasagar | Government Of Assam, India". sivasagar.assam.gov.in. Retrieved 2 March 2023.

References
  • Konwar, Nirmal Jyoti (2018), History And Management Of The Temples Of Upper Assam From The 16th To The 20th Century A D
  • Biswas, S.S. (2011), Sibsagar
  • Gogoi, Khagen (2017). Ahom warfare evolution nature and strategy. Gauhati University.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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