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{{Infobox Hindu temple
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name              = Lakshminarayana Temple
| name              = Lakshminarayana Temple
| image              = File:Lakshminarayana Temple, Hosaholalu 01.jpg
| image              = Lakshminayarana Temple , Hosaholalu, South West View.jpg
| alt                =  
| alt                = Lakshminarayana Temple at Hosaholalu
| caption            = Lakshminarayana Temple at Hosaholalu
| caption            = Lakshminarayana Temple at Hosaholalu
| map_type       =  
| map_type           = India
| map_caption        = Location in Karnataka
| coordinates        = {{coord|12|38|32.9|N|76|28|43.1|E|region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates        = {{coord|12|38|32.9|N|76|28|43.1|E|region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names        =
| proper_name        =
| country            = [[India]]
| country            = [[India]]
| state     = [[Karnataka]]
| state             = [[Karnataka]]
| district          = [[Mandya district|Mandya]]
| district          = [[Mandya district|Mandya]]
| locale            = Hosaholalu
| locale            = Hosaholalu
| elevation_m        =
| deity             = [[Lakshmi Narayan]] (Vishnu)
| deity     = [[Lakshmi Narayan]]
| festivals=
| architecture      = [[Hoysala architecture|Hoysala]]
| architecture      = [[Hoysala architecture|Hoysala]]
| temple_quantity = 1
| temple_quantity   = 1
| monument_quantity=
| year_completed     = 13th Century
| inscriptions      =
| year_completed         = 13th Century
| creator            = [[Vira Someshwara]]
| creator            = [[Vira Someshwara]]
| website            =
}}
}}
[[File:Lakshminarayana Temple (1250 AD) at Hohaholalu in Mandya district.JPG|right|thumb|Lakshminarayana temple (1250 C.E.), a Hoysala architectural showpiece, stands on a [[Jagati (temple)|jagati]] ("platform") at Hosaholalu, [[Mandya District]], [[Karnataka]]]]
 
The '''Lakshminarayana Temple''' is a 13th-century Hindu temple with [[Hoysala architecture]] in Hosaholalu, [[Mandya district]] of [[Karnataka]], [[India]]. Dedicated to Vishnu, this three-shrine monument is notable for its finely carved plinth (''adhisthana'') with panels of the ''Ramayana'', the ''Mahabharata'' and the ''Bhagavata Purana''. It has one of the most beautifully embellished Hoysala tower projection (''sukanasa'') that integrates the Dravida motifs with asta-bhadra Bhumija motifs from central India. Also notable are polish and jewelry-like carvings inside the temple's ''mandapa''.<ref name=dhaky/><ref name="hosa"/>
 
==Location and date==
The town of Hosaholalu is about {{convert|60|km|mi|0}} southeast of [[Hassan, India|Hassan]] and {{convert|45|km|mi|0}} northwest of the heritage city of [[Mysore]], the cultural capital of Karnataka state.<ref name="hosa">Foekema (1996), pp. 71-72</ref>
 
The temple was built by King [[Vira Someshwara]] of the  [[Hoysala Empire]] in 1250 C.E. It lacks a foundation inscription.<ref name=dhaky/> The dating of the temple is based on the style of the sculptures and architecture that compares closely with the contemporary [[Hoysala architecture|Hoysala monuments]] at [[Lakshminarasimha Temple, Javagal|Javagal]], [[Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Nuggehalli|Nuggehalli]] and [[Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura|Somanathapura]].<ref name="hosa"/>
 
==Architecture==
[[File:Floor plan of Lakshminarayana Temple, Hosaholalu Karnataka.jpg|thumb|left|Floor plan of Lakshminarayana temple at Hosaholalu]]
The Vishnu temple illustrates a later stage Hoysala architecture with a square plan and four-storey Vesara vimana, one that strongly resembles the [[Lakshminarasimha Temple, Haranhalli|Harnahalli temples]].<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|page = 398 }}</ref> It was built using [[Soapstone]] (chloritic schist).<ref name="soap">Kamath (2001), p136</ref>
 
The temple is a ''trikuta'' [[Vimana (shrine)|vimana]] (three shrined) temple where only the central shrine has a tower (superstructure or ''[[Shikhara]]'') on top.<ref name="kuta">Quote:"Depending on the number of towers, the temples are classified as ekakuta (one shrine and tower), dvikuta (two), trikuta (three), chatushkuta (four) and panchakuta (five). Most Hoysala temples are ekakuta, dvikuta or trikuta", Foekema (1996), p25</ref> The two lateral shrines merge into the ''ranga-mandapa'' towards the east. The main shrine is for Narayana, the southern shrine is dedicated to Venugopala, and the northern one to Lakshmi Narasimha.<ref name=dhaky/>
 
The temple is built on a ''[[Jagati (temple)|jagati]]'' (platform) with decorative elephants at corners. This elevates the temple by {{Convert|4.5|ft|m}}.<ref name=dhaky/> It extends well beyond the temple on all sides, thus providing an integrated ''pradakshinapatha'' (circumambulation passage).<ref name="platform">Quote:"The Jagati serves the purpose of a ''pradakshinapatha'' (circumambulation) as the shrine has no such arrangement", Kamath (2001), p135</ref>
 
The lateral shrines are square in construction with five projections and no special features. The central shrine is well decorated and its tower has a ''sukanasi'' (called "nose") which is actually a lower tower over the [[Vestibule (architecture)|vestibule]] that connects the shrine (cella containing the image of the deity) to the hall (''mantapa''). The ''sukanasi'' looks like an extension of the main tower over the central shrine.<ref name="vest">Foekema (1996), p22</ref>
 
[[File:Lakshminarayana Temple, profile showing relief work at Hosaholalu.jpg|right|thumb|''[[Vimana (tower)|Vimana]]'' (cella) with tower and exquisite relief at Lakshminarayana temple in Hosaholalu]]
[[File:Lakshminarayana Temple, profile showing relief work at Hosaholalu.jpg|right|thumb|''[[Vimana (tower)|Vimana]]'' (cella) with tower and exquisite relief at Lakshminarayana temple in Hosaholalu]]
The '''Lakshminarayana Temple''' is located in Hosaholalu, a small town in the [[Mandya district]] of [[Karnataka]] state, [[India]]. It was built by King [[Vira Someshwara]] of the  [[Hoysala Empire]] in 1250 C.E. The dating of the temple is based on the style of the sculptures and architecture that compares closely with the contemporary [[Hoysala architecture|Hoysala monuments]] at [[Lakshminarasimha Temple, Javagal|Javagal]], [[Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Nuggehalli|Nuggehalli]] and [[Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura|Somanathapura]]. The town of Hosaholalu is about {{convert|60|km|mi|0}} from [[Hassan, India|Hassan]] and {{convert|45|km|mi|0}} from the heritage city of [[Mysore]], the cultural capital of Karnataka state.<ref name="hosa">Foekema (1996), p71</ref>
According to art critic Gerard Foekema, the temple as a whole exhibits the "new style" and belongs to the 2nd phase of Hoysala building activity (13th century), with two sets of eaves, and six moldings at the base of the outer wall.<ref name="eave">Quote:"A eave is a projecting roof overhanging a wall", Foekema (1996), p93</ref> The first eave is located where the superstructure meets the temple outer wall and the second eave runs around the temple and about a metre below the first eave. In between the two eaves are decorative miniature towers on pilasters (called [[Aedicule]]), with sculptured wall images of Hindu deities and their attendants below the second eave.


==Temple plan==
This temple depicts a hundred and twenty panels of artwork, which are largely related to the [[Vaishnavism]] tradition of Hinduism. Twenty four sculptures of Vishnu show his four arms holding his four icons – a [[conch]], a [[wheel]], a [[Lotus (plant)|lotus]] and a [[Kaumodaki|mace]] – in all possible permutations.<ref name="corner">Foekema (1966), p72</ref> The temple also includes panels from Shaivism and Shaktism, such as one of Mahisasuramardini stamping on the buffalo-demon. Below the panel of deities is the base of the wall consisting of six decorative rectangular [[Molding (decorative)|molding]]s of equal width which run all around the temple.<ref name="mold">Quote:"Generally, Hoysala temples built in the 13th century have 6 mouldings ("new style") while those built a century earlier have 5 mouldings ("old style")" Foekema (1996), p28</ref>
The temple is a splendid example of a ''trikuta'' [[Vimana (shrine)|vimana]] (three shrined) temple though only the central shrine exhibits a tower (superstructure or ''[[Shikhara]]'') on top.<ref name="kuta">Quote:"Depending on the number of towers, the temples are classified as ekakuta (one shrine and tower), dvikuta (two), trikuta (three), chatushkuta (four) and panchakuta (five). Most Hoysala temples are ekakuta, dvikuta or trikuta", Foekema (1996), p25</ref> The lateral shrines are square in construction with five projections and no special features. The central shrine is well decorated and its tower has a ''sukanasi'' (called "nose") which is actually a lower tower over the [[Vestibule (architecture)|vestibule]] that connects the shrine (cella containing the image of the deity) to the hall (''mantapa''). The ''sukanasi'' looks like an extension of the main tower over the central shrine.<ref name="vest">Foekema (1996), p22</ref> The material used for the temple construction is chloritic schist, more commonly known as [[Soapstone]].<ref name="soap">Kamath (2001), p136</ref> The temple is built on a ''[[Jagati (temple)|jagati]]'' (platform), a Hoysala innovation that elevates the temple by about a metre.<ref name="platform">Quote:"The Jagati serves the purpose of a ''pradakshinapatha'' (circumambulation) as the shrine has no such arrangement", Kamath (2001), p135</ref><ref name="platform1">Quote:"This is a Hosala innovation", {{cite web|title=History of Karnataka-Architecture |url=http://www.ourkarnataka.com/states/history/historyofkarnataka32.htm |author=Arthikaje, Mangalore |publisher=© 1998-00 OurKarnataka.Com,Inc |access-date=2007-06-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061104123316/http://www.ourkarnataka.com/states/history/historyofkarnataka32.htm |archive-date=2006-11-04 }}</ref>


According to art critic Gerard Foekema, the temple as a whole exhibits the "new style" and belongs to the 2nd phase of Hoysala building activity (13th century), with two sets of eaves, and six moldings at the base of the outer wall.<ref name="eave">Quote:"A eave is a projecting roof overhanging a wall", Foekema (1996), p93</ref> The first eave is located where the superstructure meets the temple outer wall and the second eave runs around the temple and about a metre below the first eave. In between the two eaves are decorative miniature towers on pilasters (called [[Aedicule]]), with sculptured wall images of Hindu deities and their attendants below the second eave. Being a [[Vaishnava]] temple (a Hindu sect), most of the images represent some form of Hindu god [[Vishnu]], his consort and his attendants. There are a hundred and twenty such images. In all there are twenty four sculptures of Vishnu standing upright holding in his four arms the four attributes, a [[conch]], a [[wheel]], a [[Lotus (plant)|lotus]] and a [[Kaumodaki|mace]] in all possible permutations.<ref name="corner">Foekema (1966), p72</ref> Below the panel of deities is the base of the wall consisting of six decorative rectangular [[Molding (decorative)|molding]]s of equal width which run all around the temple.<ref name="mold">Quote:"Generally, Hoysala temples built in the 13th century have 6 mouldings ("new style") while those built a century earlier have 5 mouldings ("old style")" Foekema (1996), p28</ref>
[[File:Sri Lakshminarayana Temple , Hosaholalu - Richly Decorated Pillars inside the temple.jpg|thumb|left |upright =1.5| The polished pillars and jewelry-like decoration on the internal walls of the mandapa.]]
 
The six horizontal mouldings of the ''adhistana'' include intricately sculptured [[frieze]]s.<ref name="fre">Quote:"A rectangular band of stone decorated with sculpture", Foekema (1996), p93</ref> Seen from top to bottom; the first frieze depicts birds (''hansa''), the second depicts the mythical ''[[Makara (Hindu mythology)|makara]]'', the third frieze has depictions of ''Ramayana'', ''Mahabharata'' and ''Bhagavata Purana'' legends narrated in the clockwise direction (direction of devotee circumambulation).<ref name=dhaky/> The fourth frieze has leafy scrolls, the fifth and sixth friezes have a procession of horses and elephants respectively.<ref name="frie">Foekema (1966), p29</ref> In the frieze that depicts the epics, the [[Ramayana]] starts from  the western corner of the southern shrine, while the [[Mahabharata]] starts from the northern side of the central shrine vividly illustrating the demise of many heroes of the famous war between [[Pandava]]s and [[Kaurava]]s.<ref name="corner">Foekema (1966), p72</ref>
The six horizontal mouldings are intricately sculptured and are called [[frieze]]s.<ref name="fre">Quote:"A rectangular band of stone decorated with sculpture", Foekema (1996), p93</ref> Seen from top to bottom; the first frieze depicts birds (''hansa''), the second depicts aquatic monsters (''[[Makara (Hindu mythology)|makara]]''), the third frieze has depictions of [[Hindu]] epics and other mythological and [[puranic]] stories narrated in the clockwise direction (direction of devotee circumambulation), the fourth frieze has leafy scrolls, the fifth and sixth friezes have a procession of horses and elephants respectively.<ref name="frie">Foekema (1966), p29</ref> In the frieze that depicts the epics, the [[Ramayana]] starts from  the western corner of the southern shrine and the [[Mahabharata]] starts from the northern side of the central shrine vividly illustrating the demise of many heroes of the famous war between [[Pandava]]s and [[Kaurava]]s.<ref name="corner">Foekema (1966), p72</ref>


The interior of the temple consists of a closed hall (''mantapa'') of modest size with four polished lathe turned pillars supporting the roof.<ref name="pil">Quote:"This is a common feature of Western Chalukya-Hoysala temples", Kamath (2001), p117</ref> The four central pillars divide the hall into nine equal "bays" (compartments) and nine decorated ceilings.<ref name="ba">Quote:"A bay is a square or rectangular compartment in the hall", Foekema (1966), p93</ref> The sanctum of the three shrines contain the images of [[Gopala|Venugopala]], [[Narayana]] in the middle and [[Narasimha|Lakshminarasimha]]; all forms ([[Avatar]]) of Vishnu.<ref name="corner"/>
The interior of the temple consists of a closed hall (''mantapa'') of modest size with four polished lathe turned pillars supporting the roof.<ref name="pil">Quote:"This is a common feature of Western Chalukya-Hoysala temples", Kamath (2001), p117</ref> The four central pillars divide the hall into nine equal "bays" (compartments) and nine decorated ceilings.<ref name="ba">Quote:"A bay is a square or rectangular compartment in the hall", Foekema (1966), p93</ref> The sanctum of the three shrines contain the images of [[Gopala|Venugopala]], [[Narayana]] in the middle and [[Narasimha|Lakshminarasimha]]; all forms ([[Avatar]]) of Vishnu.<ref name="corner"/>
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<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Sri Lakshminarayana Temple , Hosaholalu - West side view.jpg|Lakshminarayana temple at Hosaholalu
File:Sri Lakshminarayana Temple , Hosaholalu - West side view.jpg|Lakshminarayana temple at Hosaholalu
File:Sri Lakshminarayana Temple, Hosaholalu - North View.jpg|Lakshminarayana temple at Hosaholalu, North Side View - detailed and ornate relief work on ''vimana'' exterior
File:Lakshminarayana Temple, Hosaholalu - during PHMSTBGP-2020 (154).jpg|The [[Jagati (temple)|jagati]] ("platform")
File:Lakshminarayana Temple, view of shrine, at Hosaholalu.jpg|Another view of shrine and relief, Lakshminarayana temple at Hosaholalu
File:Sri Lakshminarayana Temple, Hosaholalu - North View.jpg|North Side View - ornate relief work on ''vimana'' exterior
File:Lakshminarayana Temple at Hosaholalu, close up of shrine vimana.jpg|Another view of the Shrine and superstructure over it, Lakshminarayana temple at Hosaholalu
File:Lakshminarayana Temple, Hosaholalu - during PHMSTBGP-2020 (161).jpg|The Shrine and superstructure over it
File:Lakshminarayan Temple, Hosaholalu.jpg|Rear view of Lakshminarayana temple at Hosaholalu
File:Lakshminarayan Temple, Hosaholalu.jpg|Rear view  
File:Shrine (Vimana) at Lakshminarayana Templeat Hosaholalu.jpg|close up of shrine and superstructure (''vimana''), Lakshminarayana temple at Hosaholalu
File:Stellate shrine outer wall with relief in Lakshminarayana temple at Hosaholalu.jpg|Star pointed ''vimana''
File:Stellate shrine outer wall with relief in Lakshminarayana temple at Hosaholalu.jpg|Star pointed ''vimana'' (cella), Lakshminarayana temple at Hosaholalu
File:Wall frieze and moulding relief in Lakshminarayana temple at Hosaholalu.jpg|Close up of bas-relief
File:Wall frieze and moulding relief in Lakshminarayana temple at Hosaholalu.jpg|Close up of bas-relief, Lakshminarayana temple at Hosaholalu
File:Ornate relief between eves and frieze of moldings at the base in Lakshminarayana Temple at Hosaholalu.jpg|Wall relief
File:Ornate relief between eves and frieze of moldings at the base in Lakshminarayana Temple at Hosaholalu.jpg|Wall relief at Lakshminarayana Temple, Hosaholalu
File:Lakshminarayana Temple at Hosaholalu, wall panel relief.JPG|Wall panel relief
File:Lakshminarayana Temple at Hosaholalu, wall panel relief.JPG|Wall panel relief, Lakshminarayana temple at Hosaholalu
File:Hindu deities in panel relief in Lakshminarayana Temple at Hosaholalu.jpg|Wall relief
File:Hindu deities in panel relief in Lakshminarayana Temple at Hosaholalu.jpg|Wall relief at Lakshminarayana Temple, Hosaholalu
File:Swirls and Flourishes in frieze Lakshminarayana Temple at Hosaholalu.jpg|Swirls and flourishes on molding frieze
File:Swirls and Flourishes in frieze Lakshminarayana Temple at Hosaholalu.jpg|Swirls and flourishes on molding frieze at Lakshminarayana Temple, Hosaholalu - a common feature in Hoysala architecture
File:Richly Decorated Carving of Sri Krishna - Sri Lakshminarayana Temple,Hosaholalu.jpg|Krishna dancing on Naga
File:Lakshminayarana Temple , Hosaholalu, South West View.jpg|Lakshminarayana temple at Hosaholalu . North side view
File:Lakshminarayana Temple, Hosaholalu - during PHMSTBGP-2020 (230).jpg|Krishna with flute
File:Richly Decorated Carving of Sri Krishna - Sri Lakshminarayana Temple,Hosaholalu.jpg|Richly decorated carving of the god Krishna on the exterior wall of the temple
File:Richly Decorated Carving of Goddess Durga - Sri Lakshminarayana Temple,Hosaholalu.jpg|Goddess Durga, Mahisasuramardini
File:Richly Decorated Carving of Goddess Durga - Sri Lakshminarayana Temple,Hosaholalu.jpg|Richly decorated carving of the goddess Durga on exterior wall of shrine
File:Lakshminarayana Temple, Hosaholalu - during PHMSTBGP-2020 (22).jpg|Vedic deity Indra
</gallery>
</gallery>


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* Gerard Foekema, A Complete Guide To Hoysala Temples, 1996, Abhinav, {{ISBN|81-7017-345-0}}  
* Gerard Foekema, A Complete Guide To Hoysala Temples, 1996, Abhinav, {{ISBN|81-7017-345-0}}  
* Suryanath U. Kamat, A Concise history of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter books, MCC, Bangalore, 2001 (Reprinted 2002) OCLC: 7796041  
* Suryanath U. Kamat, A Concise history of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter books, MCC, Bangalore, 2001 (Reprinted 2002) OCLC: 7796041  
* {{cite web
|author=Sesunathan, I
|title=Sculptural tales from a bygone era
|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/Archives/feb242004/spt7.asp
|publisher=Spectrum
|work=Deccan Herald
|access-date=2007-06-16
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929121855/http://www.deccanherald.com/Archives/feb242004/spt7.asp
|archive-date=2007-09-29
|url-status=dead
}}
* {{cite web|author=Arthikaje |title=The Hoysalas-Religion, Literature, Art and Architecture |url=http://www.ourkarnataka.com/states/history/historyofkarnataka31.htm |publisher=www.ourKarnataka.com |work=History of Karnataka |access-date=2007-06-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061104123304/http://www.ourkarnataka.com/states/history/historyofkarnataka31.htm |archive-date=2006-11-04 }}
*{{cite web|author=Kamiya Takeo|title=Architecture of Indian Subcontinent|url=http://www.indoarch.org/place.php?placelink=R%3D5%2BS%3D18%2BP%3D0%2BM%3D0|publisher=Architecture Autonomous|work=Indian Architecture|access-date=2006-11-13}}
*{{cite web|author=Kamiya Takeo|title=Architecture of Indian Subcontinent|url=http://www.indoarch.org/place.php?placelink=R%3D5%2BS%3D18%2BP%3D0%2BM%3D0|publisher=Architecture Autonomous|work=Indian Architecture|access-date=2006-11-13}}


Latest revision as of 16:08, 30 August 2021

Lakshminarayana Temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictMandya
DeityLakshmi Narayan (Vishnu)
Location
LocationHosaholalu
StateKarnataka
CountryIndia
Lakshminarayana Temple, Hosaholalu is located in India
Lakshminarayana Temple, Hosaholalu
Shown within India
Coordinates12°38′32.9″N 76°28′43.1″E / 12.642472°N 76.478639°E / 12.642472; 76.478639
Architecture
TypeHoysala
CreatorVira Someshwara
Completed13th Century
Temple1

The Lakshminarayana Temple is a 13th-century Hindu temple with Hoysala architecture in Hosaholalu, Mandya district of Karnataka, India. Dedicated to Vishnu, this three-shrine monument is notable for its finely carved plinth (adhisthana) with panels of the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Bhagavata Purana. It has one of the most beautifully embellished Hoysala tower projection (sukanasa) that integrates the Dravida motifs with asta-bhadra Bhumija motifs from central India. Also notable are polish and jewelry-like carvings inside the temple's mandapa.[1][2]

Location and date[edit | edit source]

The town of Hosaholalu is about 60 kilometres (37 mi) southeast of Hassan and 45 kilometres (28 mi) northwest of the heritage city of Mysore, the cultural capital of Karnataka state.[2]

The temple was built by King Vira Someshwara of the Hoysala Empire in 1250 C.E. It lacks a foundation inscription.[1] The dating of the temple is based on the style of the sculptures and architecture that compares closely with the contemporary Hoysala monuments at Javagal, Nuggehalli and Somanathapura.[2]

Architecture[edit | edit source]

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Floor plan of Lakshminarayana temple at Hosaholalu

The Vishnu temple illustrates a later stage Hoysala architecture with a square plan and four-storey Vesara vimana, one that strongly resembles the Harnahalli temples.[1] It was built using Soapstone (chloritic schist).[3]

The temple is a trikuta vimana (three shrined) temple where only the central shrine has a tower (superstructure or Shikhara) on top.[4] The two lateral shrines merge into the ranga-mandapa towards the east. The main shrine is for Narayana, the southern shrine is dedicated to Venugopala, and the northern one to Lakshmi Narasimha.[1]

The temple is built on a jagati (platform) with decorative elephants at corners. This elevates the temple by 4.5 feet (1.4 m).[1] It extends well beyond the temple on all sides, thus providing an integrated pradakshinapatha (circumambulation passage).[5]

The lateral shrines are square in construction with five projections and no special features. The central shrine is well decorated and its tower has a sukanasi (called "nose") which is actually a lower tower over the vestibule that connects the shrine (cella containing the image of the deity) to the hall (mantapa). The sukanasi looks like an extension of the main tower over the central shrine.[6]

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Vimana (cella) with tower and exquisite relief at Lakshminarayana temple in Hosaholalu

According to art critic Gerard Foekema, the temple as a whole exhibits the "new style" and belongs to the 2nd phase of Hoysala building activity (13th century), with two sets of eaves, and six moldings at the base of the outer wall.[7] The first eave is located where the superstructure meets the temple outer wall and the second eave runs around the temple and about a metre below the first eave. In between the two eaves are decorative miniature towers on pilasters (called Aedicule), with sculptured wall images of Hindu deities and their attendants below the second eave.

This temple depicts a hundred and twenty panels of artwork, which are largely related to the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism. Twenty four sculptures of Vishnu show his four arms holding his four icons – a conch, a wheel, a lotus and a mace – in all possible permutations.[8] The temple also includes panels from Shaivism and Shaktism, such as one of Mahisasuramardini stamping on the buffalo-demon. Below the panel of deities is the base of the wall consisting of six decorative rectangular moldings of equal width which run all around the temple.[9]

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
The polished pillars and jewelry-like decoration on the internal walls of the mandapa.

The six horizontal mouldings of the adhistana include intricately sculptured friezes.[10] Seen from top to bottom; the first frieze depicts birds (hansa), the second depicts the mythical makara, the third frieze has depictions of Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavata Purana legends narrated in the clockwise direction (direction of devotee circumambulation).[1] The fourth frieze has leafy scrolls, the fifth and sixth friezes have a procession of horses and elephants respectively.[11] In the frieze that depicts the epics, the Ramayana starts from the western corner of the southern shrine, while the Mahabharata starts from the northern side of the central shrine vividly illustrating the demise of many heroes of the famous war between Pandavas and Kauravas.[8]

The interior of the temple consists of a closed hall (mantapa) of modest size with four polished lathe turned pillars supporting the roof.[12] The four central pillars divide the hall into nine equal "bays" (compartments) and nine decorated ceilings.[13] The sanctum of the three shrines contain the images of Venugopala, Narayana in the middle and Lakshminarasimha; all forms (Avatar) of Vishnu.[8]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Madhusudan A. Dhaky; Michael Meister (1996). Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Architecture, Volume 1 Part 3 South India Text & Plates. American Institute of Indian Studies. p. 398. ISBN 978-81-86526-00-2.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Foekema (1996), pp. 71-72
  3. ↑ Kamath (2001), p136
  4. ↑ Quote:"Depending on the number of towers, the temples are classified as ekakuta (one shrine and tower), dvikuta (two), trikuta (three), chatushkuta (four) and panchakuta (five). Most Hoysala temples are ekakuta, dvikuta or trikuta", Foekema (1996), p25
  5. ↑ Quote:"The Jagati serves the purpose of a pradakshinapatha (circumambulation) as the shrine has no such arrangement", Kamath (2001), p135
  6. ↑ Foekema (1996), p22
  7. ↑ Quote:"A eave is a projecting roof overhanging a wall", Foekema (1996), p93
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Foekema (1966), p72
  9. ↑ Quote:"Generally, Hoysala temples built in the 13th century have 6 mouldings ("new style") while those built a century earlier have 5 mouldings ("old style")" Foekema (1996), p28
  10. ↑ Quote:"A rectangular band of stone decorated with sculpture", Foekema (1996), p93
  11. ↑ Foekema (1966), p29
  12. ↑ Quote:"This is a common feature of Western Chalukya-Hoysala temples", Kamath (2001), p117
  13. ↑ Quote:"A bay is a square or rectangular compartment in the hall", Foekema (1966), p93

References[edit | edit source]

  • Gerard Foekema, A Complete Guide To Hoysala Temples, 1996, Abhinav, ISBN 81-7017-345-0
  • Suryanath U. Kamat, A Concise history of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter books, MCC, Bangalore, 2001 (Reprinted 2002) OCLC: 7796041
  • Kamiya Takeo. "Architecture of Indian Subcontinent". Indian Architecture. Architecture Autonomous. Retrieved 13 November 2006.
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