In Delhi, the voice of Manipur’s heritage reached the heart of Parliament. During Zero Hour, Rajya Sabha MP Maharaj Sanajaoba raised an urgent appeal to save the historic Vishnu Temple in Bishnupur district, known as the Brick Temple and revered as one of the most important Vishnu shrines of the state. Just 27 km from Imphal, this temple stands as a quiet witness to a centuries-old Vaishnav legacy that many in Bharat have never even heard of.
Sanajaoba reminded the House that the shrine dates back to the reign of King Kiyamba in the 15th century, when the Manipuri ruler received a Vishnu emblem from the King of Upper Burma. From that moment, a temple was born that embodied deep cultural ties across regions, blending Burmese and Bengali architectural styles in its unique brick and lime structure. Its small sanctum, with a corbelled roof and hut-like form, is a rare surviving symbol of how Hindu dharma took root in Manipur.
Despite being under ASI protection, the temple suffers from neglect. The MP has demanded a permanent caretaker, chowkidar, gardener, and active promotion as a heritage and pilgrimage site. Temples like Bishnupur Vishnu do not just need to be “listed”. They need to be lived, protected, and honoured. A civilisation that forgets such kshetras slowly forgets itself.
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