In this video , we are going to discuss about a wonderful temple in India, Ratneshwar Mahadev Mandir . Amazing thing is , this 74 meters hight temple leans by 9 degree towards north west. Famous World wonder Pisa Tower , 56 meters hight leans only 3.97 degrees .But not even mentioned as a tourist spot. Let’s make it known to all over the world …….
Ratneswar Mahadeva Temple (also known as Matri-rin Mahadev,or Leaning temple of Varanasi) is one of the most photographed temples in the holy city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, North India. The temple, while apparently well-preserved, leans significantly towards the back side (north-west), and its Garbhagriha is generally below the water much of the year, except for a few months during the summer.
The temple is elegantly constructed in the classical style with a nagara shikhara and Phamsana Mandapa. The site of the temple is very unusual. Unlike all other temples in Varanasi on the coast of Ganga, the temple is built at a very low level. In fact, the water level can reach the shikhara part of the temple.
It is constructed at a very low spot; the builder must have known that its garbhagriha would be underwater for much of the year. In spite of much of the temple being underwater during most of the year, it is well preserved, except for the lean that can be noted in 20th century photos.
According to a popular legend, it was built by an unnamed servant of Raja Man Singh for his mother Ratna Bai about 500 years ago. After having built the temple, he proudly boasted that he paid his debt to his mother (Matru-run). However, since the debt to one’s mother can never be repaid, the temple started leaning because of a curse by the mother. That is the reason for the alternative name of the temple: Matru-run (Mother’s debt). According to another story, it was built by a female servant of Ahilya Bai of Indore, named Ratna Bai. Ahilya Bai cursed it to lean because her servant had named it after herself.
Some sources claim that it was built by Queen Baiija Bai of Gwalior in the 19th century. According to the revenue records, it was constructed during 1825-1830. However, according to Dr. Ratnesh Varma of District Cultural Committee, it was constructed by the Amethi royal family in 1857. James Princep, who was an assay master at the Banaras Mint during 1820-1830, created a series of drawings, one of which includes the Ratneshwar Mahadev temple. He commented that when the temple entrance was underwater, the priest used to dive in the water to conduct worship.
Photographs from 1860s do not show the building leaning. Modern photographs show a lean of about 9 degrees (the Tower of Pisa leans about 4 degrees). The building is likely leaning because it is sinking into silt or due to a faulty foundation. A lightning strike in 2015 caused slight damage to some of the elements of the shikhra.
