In Varanasi, one of the oldest and continuously inhabited towns on the face of the Indian subcontinent, the Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple stands—or rather, leans—as one of the most intriguing temple structures in India. By virtue of its unusual yet notable tilt, this temple has befuddled hordes of folks for a long time. It is situated next to the mythological Manikarnika Ghat and tends to incline at a greater angle than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Historians, engineers, and devotees have long remained all but fascinated by the temple, which continues to be an active place of worship despite its structural irregularity.
The temple is mounted on the banks of the Ganges River, between Manikarnika Ghat and Scindhia Ghat. It was constructed in the traditional Nagara style and features a phamsana-type mandapa and a tall shikhara. Since the Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple is situated at a lower level than the majority of Varanasi's temples, which are constructed on raised platforms, it is particularly vulnerable to flooding during the monsoon season. Given that the sanctuary is submerged for several months of the year, priests must occasionally dive into the water to carry out rites.
A prominent aspect of the temple is its apparent nine-degree tilt, which is more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa's four-degree inclination. The matter as to what caused the said tilt still remains open for debate. According to some historians, the fragility of the structure was caused by poor basic planning. Some people think that the foundation was gradually damaged by constant exposure to the river's currents and erosion. Since there is no discernible tilt in the 1860s photographic evidence, the lean grew gradually.
Several legends exist around the temple’s construction, prodding its origins into much ambivalence. According to one story, Raja Man Singh's servant constructed the temple in memory of his mother, Ratna Bai. Having finished the construction, the king’s son proclaimed that with the act of building the temple, he had repaid his mother's debt, or "matru-rin”. Nonetheless, as it is generally considered that a mother's obligation can never be paid back in full, the temple took to leaning and tilting, as is known to happen in mythologies, as a heavenly payback of an arrogant, if ambitious, act.
In the same breath, according to another legend, it is believed that the temple was constructed by Ratna Bai, the servant of Queen Ahilya Bai Holkar. Following this legend, one discovers that Ahilya Bai cursed the temple, causing it to tilt, as she was offended that it was named after a servant. These tales contribute to the temple's aura even if there is no historical proof to support them.
The Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple was recorded by British surveyor and scholar James Prinsep around the beginning of the 19th century. According to his notes and illustrations, the temple was regularly submerged, and priests had to swim to offer daily prayers. The temple is structurally sound and has withstood monsoons and seasonal flooding for millennia despite its odd tilt.
Whether the tilt was deliberate or the consequence of structural slack has been disputed by experts. According to certain interpretations, the temple's design included a little incline to compensate for soil displacement. Nevertheless, this notion is not backed up by any hard data. More likely hypotheses suggest that the temple's lower placement, water infiltration and foundational deterioration are the main causes of the lean.
The tilt has never been corrected, probably because of practical and theological limitations. Unaltered, the temple's lean has come to be an integral aspect of its character.
The Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple continues to be an active site of devotion in spite of its structural flaws. Especially during Maha Shivaratri, devotees come to the temple to pray to Hindu deity Shiva. The temple's religious significance naturally sees a proliferation on account of its proximity to Manikarnika Ghat, one of Hinduism's holiest cremation places. In addition, the temple's closeness to the holy Ganges, pilgrims feel that prayers performed here have particular meaning.
Visitors from all across the nation and abroad are drawn to the temple, especially those with an interest in history, architecture and unusual engineering. However, conservation efforts are challenging due to its fragile situation. The temple has gotten little official attention for preservation, in contrast to UNESCO-listed cultural sites. There are still questions regarding the temple's long-term viability in the face of environmental issues and urban growth as Varanasi experiences infrastructure improvements.
