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Charpatra Mura is a small but interesting archaeological site in MAINAMATI. It is situated in the northern part of the Lalmai ridge at about the centre of the Comilla Cantonment area. A small Hindu shrine, 45.7m x 16.8m, was uncovered here.
In plan, shape and architectural design and decoration, it is unique; differing basically both from the Buddhist architecture of Mainamati and the traditional Hindu temple architecture of the Gupta or other Indian types. It appears to represent a synthetic Bengal type that has evolved gradually by assimilating certain elements and features of local Buddhist architecture. The temple has two distinct parts, an open pillared hall in the badly damaged front part and a cella at the back in the west.
The latter part was found less damaged and decayed, that is to say, better preserved and undisturbed. It could therefore be properly excavated and uncovered. The exterior of this cella or temple proper at the back shows a fantastically complex and variegated shape produced by a multiplicity of angles and corners resulting from a combination of symmetrical projections and offsets at lateral and vertical planes, maintaining, nevertheless, a delicate balance between exotic growth and basic strength and proportions of the original form and the traditional plan.
The overall effect is highly pleasing.
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