Bangladesh has a long history and marvellous past. Diverse archaeological sites like Mahasthangarh, Paharpur, Vashu Vihara, Dhap Vihara, Jogoddol Moha Vihara, Bhoja Vihara, Charpatra Mura, Salban Vihara, Rupban Mura, Gokul Medh, etc. of Hindu-Buddhist periods and Kushumba Mosque, Bagha Mosque, Atia Mosque, Shait Gumbad Mosque, Chhota Sona Mosque and many other mosques of the Muslim period are her national treasure. The substance, accomplishment, decoration, ornamentation, arrangement and idea of these monuments are different, and each may claim uniqueness. These records connect the socio-economic and religious history of the country. The landscape of the country is different than any other ecological corners of the world. Many different ideas, beliefs, philosophy, dogmas and so on entered this country through the ages. The people of the land submerged those ideas and philosophy directly and expressed those themes in a blended way. Therefore, architecture of this country emerged in a composite form like “Indo-Aryan” and “Indo-Islamic” styles of architecture.
Bangladesh is a riverine country and has very fine and fertile soil. Its clay can be easily formed into bricks. Therefore, most of the temples during the late medieval period were brick-built and furnished with terracotta plates. After the Hindu-Buddhist rules, Muslims ruled the country. There is no indication on temple construction in the early stage of Muslim rule. However, later at the end of the liberal period of Mughal rule, between 1600 AD to 1895 AD a total of 130 temples and other religious structures were built in different areas of Bangladesh. Kantajee temple is one of them, is located at Sundarpur Union, 21 kilometres north of Dinajpur town, along the Dinajpur-Tetulia Highway. On the eastern bank of Dhepa river. Originally the temple was built on the western bank, due to flash-floods and an earthquake the river has changed its course and shifted to the east in 1787. Dhepa was an active and deep river which has dried up now. Local Jamindar (Landlord) Raja Prannath started the construction of this temple in and dedicated to Krishna and his wife, Rukmini. Raja Prannath died in 1722, and the work remained incomplete during his lifetime. Later, his adopted son Ramnath completed the remaining tasks in 1752.
“Sake vedabdhi kala kshiti pariganite bhumipa Pran-nath Prasadanchatiromya surochito nava-ratnakhya masminya karyata Rukmini Kanta tushtoya samuchito manasa Ramnathen ragma Datta kantaya Kantasya tu nija nagar tato sankalop siddhya”.
There is not enough information to establish the construction date of the temple. Fortunately, a four-line Sanskrit inscription has found on the plinth of the northeastern corner of the temple, which provides the final construction date and other relevant information. This inscription was written in Bengali script, and the language is Sanskrit. The inscription expressed that the King Prannath began the construction of the well-planned graceful nava-ratna temple of Rukmini Kanta. In the Saka year of 1674 (Sake vedabdhi kala kshiti it means: veda=4; abdhi=7; Kala (season of the year) = 6; and Kshiti (or Earth) = 1, to get the date 1674 Saka era one has to reverse these figures) to accomplish the wish of the king (Prannath) the temple was completed by his adopted son Ramnath (manasa Ramnathen) in Kantanagar.
