Shyamsiddhi Matha

Shyamsiddhi Matha is located in Shyamsiddhi village, to the west of Srinagar Bazar under Srinagar upazila in Munshiganj district. A Bangla inscription fixed over the doorway in the south side records its construction by one Shambhunath Majumder in 1243 BS/ Shakabda 1758 (1836 AD). The matha is known by its location.

The building is square in plan, measuring 6m externally, and the walls are 1m thick. This brick built matha stands on a 1.20m high platform, and is about 20m high. The matha is divided into three stages. The lower square part is the main shrine. On its south side there is an entrance with pointed arch, flanked by a rectangular panel on its either side; while each of the other three sides contains three rectangular panels in plaster, of which the central one is bigger than the flanking ones. Over the lintel level, all four sides are relieved with two semi-circular arches - one above the other - set within a rectangular frame under a large semi-circular arch. A sun emblem in plaster is depicted in the small arches.

The entire surface of the walls were originally plastered, but now have fallen at places. The shrine is covered by a dome, over which the base of the tapering shikhara (spire) is transformed into an octagonal shape at its second stage. Internally, the dome is supported on half-domed squinches and multi-cusped corner arches, while the sidewalls are relived with ornamented arched panels. Above these arched panels and corner arches medallions are depicted. The interior of the dome is ornamented with two bands of floral motives at the base.

At the octagonal second stage there are eight pilasters on the eight corners. The large rectangular area in each side is decorated with large window panels with closed shutters. Above the window panel runs panels containing a group of serpent hoods and floral leaf pattern alternately around the eight sides. Above each of the eight sides there is a curved chala decoration, from which the uppermost stage of the matha rises in a tapering mass. The shikhara was once crowned with kalasa finial, but is now missing, although the iron trishul (trident) is still standing.

It is a typical single shikhara type of matha with a series of repeated curved vertical mouldings, similar to the sonarang twin temples. [Muhammed Nasir Uddin]