My parents had taken me to Belur in Hassan District, Karnataka State sometime when I was in school when I was not in an age to appreciate art. However, I finally got this opportunity last week, and I must say that I dont regret it one bit. It was simply mind blowing.
Belur is a quaint little town on the banks of the river Yagachi. The Hoysala dynasty ruled this region between the 11th and the 13th centuries. They were great patrons of art and architecture. The temples and monuments at Belur are indeed the best Hoysala creations. It was chosen as the capital after the Delhi sultans destroyed their capital at Dwarasamudra, also known as Halebeedu. The temples and monuments at Belur are the best Hoysala creations.
Hoysala is named after the words 'Hoy Sala', meaning 'strike sala' which were called out to Sala, the legendary head of this dynasty, when he was combating a tiger single handedly. Sala killed the tiger and this act of bravery was immortalized in the royal emblem of the dynasty.The Hoysalas ruled the Deccan and parts of Tamil Nadu between the 10th and 14th centuries.
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| Hoysala Emblem- Sala killing the tiger single-handedly |
The Chenna keshava temple is dedicated to Lord Vijayanaryan, one of the twenty four incarnations off Vishnu. It was built to commemorate the victory of Hoysalas over the Cholas in the great battle of Talakkad. The construction of the temple commenced in 1116 A.D at the instance of king Vishnuvardhana. The construction was then continued by his son and completed by his grandson. It took about 103 years to complete this profusely sculpted masterpiece.
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| Star shaped ground plan on platform |
The Hoysala temples are characterized by typical star shaped ground plan set on a platform. They are compact, squat structures. The temples at Belur are carved out of soap stone quarried from Tumkur 200 kms. away. The huge temple complex enclosed by high walls has a 'garbha griha' (sanctum sanctorum), a 'sukhanasi' (vestibule) and a 'navaranga mandapa'. The complex also has many smaller shrines, mandapams and other structures. There are two gateways, but only one is crowned by a gopuram, which was built in 1397,by Gunda, a general of Harihara II, after the original Mahadwara was burnt down by Ganga Salar, an officer of Tughlaks.
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| Temple with the main gopuram in the background |
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| Navaranga Mandapam |
The star shaped main sanctum is a homogenous architectural unit set on a raised platform in the centre of a paved courtyard sorrounded by subsidiary shrines and colonnades. The towering 'vimana' of the sanctum made of wood and mortar was supported by wood work and plated with gold gilded coper sheets. Unfortunately, the crumbling vimana had to be dismantled in 1879, to protect the main sanctum. Virtually every inch of the shrine is intricately carved. The outer walls are adorned with carvings of elephants, lions and small female figures in ornamental niches. No two friezes in the complete range are alike. The lowest of these carved bands has 650 elephants in different moods. The most outstanding are the 38 freestanding bracket figures around the outside ofthe temple and the navranga (pillared hall) The brackets are adorned with voluptous beauties known as 'Madanikas' in various dancing and ritual postures.
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| Madanika - free standing bracket figure |
To view more photographs of Belur Chennakeshava Temple click on the link below
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/118371169888441072879/albums/5939676298443629889?sort=1
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