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{{other|Someshwara Temple (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Somesvara Temple of Haranhalli
| image = Someshvara temple at Haranahalli.JPG
| alt = Shiva temple at Haranhalli
| coordinates = {{coord|13|14|50.8|N|76|13|34.5|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| map_type = India#India Karnataka
| state = [[Karnataka]]
| country = [[India]]
| district = [[Hassan District|Hassan]]
| locale = [[Harnahalli]]
| deity = [[Shiva]]
| architecture = [[Hoysala architecture|Hoysala]]
| year_completed = c. 1234 CE
| creator = Heggade brothers
}}

The '''Someshvara temple''' at Haranhalli, sometimes referred to as '''Somesvara temple of Haranhalli''', is one of two major historic Hindu temples that have survived in [[Haranhalli]], [[Karnataka]], India. It is dedicated to [[Shiva]], while the other – [[Lakshminarasimha Temple, Haranhalli]] few hundred meters to the west – is dedicated to [[Vishnu]]. Both temples reflect a Vesara-style [[Hoysala architecture]], share similar design ideas and features, and were completed in the 1230s by three wealthy brothers – Peddanna Heggade, Sovanna and Kesanna.<ref name="soma">Foekema (1996), pp. 67–70</ref><ref name=dhaky>{{cite book| author1=Madhusudan A. Dhaky|author2=Michael Meister|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Architecture, Volume 1 Part 3 South India Text & Plates|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=a1VJAQAAIAAJ | year=1996|publisher= American Institute of Indian Studies|isbn= 978-81-86526-00-2|pages = 396–398 }}</ref>

The Someshvara temple is more damaged and ruined than the nearby Lakshminarasimha, but its surviving art and panels from [[Shaivism]], [[Vaishnavism]] and [[Shaktism]] are notable. Also notable is its illustration of three entrance-style, square plan [[Vesara]] architecture with an integrated circumambulation path on the ''jagati''.<ref name=dhaky/>

The Someshvara temple is a protected monument under the Karnataka state division of the [[Archaeological Survey of India]].<ref name="protected">{{cite web |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_protected_monu_karnataka.asp|title=Protected Monuments in Karnataka|work=Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India|publisher=Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts|access-date=10 August 2012}}</ref>

==Location and date==
Haranhalli, – also referred to as Harnahalli, Haruvanahalli or Hiriya Somanathapura in historic inscriptions – is located about {{Convert|35|km|mi|0}} east of [[Halebidu]] and about {{Convert|35|km|mi|0}} northeast of [[Hassan, Karnataka|Hassan city]] in [[Karnataka]] state, [[India]]. It is connected to India's highway network with NH 73 and SH 21. The Somesvara temple is located towards the eastern edge of the village, and it is about 300 meters to the east of the more ornate Lakshminarasimha temple.<ref name="soma"/><ref name=dhaky/>

==Architecture==
[[File:Somesvara temple, Harnahalli Karnataka India.jpg|thumb|left|The floor plan of the Somesvara temple at Harnahalli.]]
[[File:Vesara shrine and sikhara in the Someshvara Temple at Haranhalli.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|The Vesara tower of the Someshvara temple at Haranahalli]]
The Somesvara temple at Harahalli is a mature [[Vesara]] architecture. It has only one sanctum and vimana with superstructure. Like the Lakshminarasimha temple nearby that also completed in 1234 CE, this temple sits on a ''pallavi'' style of ''jagati'' (a molded platform constructed per ''vastu'' guidelines).<ref name=dhaky/> This platform, in addition to adding visual beauty, provides the devotees a path for [[circumambulation]] (''[[pradakshina]]patha'') around the temple. The platform has three flights of steps, one leading to the entrance to the hall and the other two that lead only up to the platform, further enhancing the visual appearance.<ref name="steps">Foekema (1996), p25</ref><ref name="nose"/><ref name="pradakshina">Kamath (2001), p135</ref>

The temple plan is similar to that of the Lakshminarasimha temple, but according to art historian Foekema, the overall decorative ornamentation of Somesvara temple is somewhat lesser in quality though there are some well executed reliefs.<ref name="soma"/> The temple plan is a ''ekakuta'' (single shrine) but made to look like a ''trikuta'' (three shrined) due to the two simple lateral shrine like structures.<ref name="steped">Foekema (1996), p 25, p. 69</ref> The main shrine is stellate (star-shaped), has a complete superstructure (tower or ''[[shikhara]]'') and a ''sukhanasi'' (nose or tower over the [[Vestibule (architecture)|vestibule]]) which is similar to that in the Lakshminarasimha temple.<ref name="sukha">Foekema (1996), p 22</ref><ref name="nose">Foekema (1996), p 69</ref>

According to Foekema, the decoration in the interior of the Somevara temple and the upper parts of the walls deserve special mention for its taste.<ref name="mention">Foekema(1996), p 70</ref>

===Decoration and sculptures===
The tower over the shrine and its vestibule (''sukhanasi'' or nose) are intact. The ''[[Kalasha|kalasa]]'' on top of the tower (the decorative water-pot at the apex of the tower) is however missing.<ref name="kalasa">Foekema (1996), p27</ref> The decorative plan of the walls of the shrines and the hall reflects the mature Hoysala style with two eaves that run around the temple.<ref name="nose"/>

The first heavy eaves runs below the superstructure and all around the temple with a projection of about half a meter. The second eaves runs around the temple about a meter below the first. In between the two eaves are the miniature decorative towers ([[Aedicula]]) on [[pilaster]]s. Below the second eaves are the wall panel of images of Hindu [[deity|deities]] and their attendants in [[relief]].<ref name="nose"/><ref name="deity">Foekema (1996), pp28-29</ref><ref name="keynote10">Kamath (2001), p134</ref> Below this, at the base are the six equal width rectangular [[Molding (decorative)|molding]]s ([[frieze]]). Starting from the top, the friezes depict; ''hansa'' (birds) in the first frieze, ''[[Makara (Hindu mythology)|makara]]'' (mythical fused creatures) in the second, the usual depiction of scenes from the Hindu epics are absent in the third frieze which has been left blank. This is followed by leafy scrolls in the fourth frieze. The fifth and sixth friezes exhibit high quality workmanship in depicting horses and elephants respectively.<ref name="keynote10"/><ref name="base">Foekema (1996), p29, p69</ref>

Many blocks of the superstructure have no carvings. Similarly, the frieze work on the moldings at the base is missing.<ref name="arti">Foekema (1996), pp69-70</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Close up of Profile of stellate tower over shrine in the Someshvara temple at Haranahalli.JPG|Close up of ''shikhara'' (superstructure)
File:Minor shrine (aedicula) inside mantapa of the Someshvara temple at Haranahalli.JPG|Decorative pillars and minor shrine (aedicula) inside mantapa
File:Someshvara temple at Haranahalli 1.JPG|Another view of Someshvara temple at Haranahalli where mantapa entrance has been closed
File:Vesara tower over shrine with minor shrine extension on outer wall in the Someshvara temple at Haranahalli.JPG|Front view of ''vesara'' tower over shrine with minor shrine extension on outer wall in the Someshvara temple at Haranahalli
File:Profile of vesara stellate tower over shrine in the Someshvara temple at Haranahalli 1.JPG|''Vimana'' (tower and shrine) outer wall with protruding over wall aedicula (minor shrine) of Someshvara temple, Haranhalli
File:Ornate pillar in mantapa of Lakshminarasimha temple at Haranhalli 4.JPG|Ornate pillars inside mantapa of Someshvara temple at Haranhalli
File:Horizontal frieze treatment in the Someshvara temple at Haranahalli.JPG|Horizontal frieze treatment in the Someshvara temple at Haranahalli with. Relief of Hindu deities in frieze on the third molding is absent.
File:Domical bay ceiling in the mantapa of Someshvara temple at Haranahalli.JPG|Domical bay ceiling in the mantapa of Someshvara temple at Haranahalli
</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

;Bibliography
{{commons category}}
*Gerard Foekema, A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples, Abhinav, 1996 {{ISBN|81-7017-345-0}}
*{{Cite book |last=Kamath |first=Suryanath U. |title=A concise history of Karnataka: from pre-historic times to the present |orig-date=1980 |year=2001 |publisher=Jupiter books |location=Bangalore |oclc=7796041 |lccn=80905179}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Hassan district]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Karnataka]]

Someshvara Temple, Haranhalli - Revision history

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