Chennakeshava Temple, Honavar

Grandeur Etched In stone (Part -4)

ChennakeshavaTemple-Honavar

Honavar The large temples in Belur and Halebid give a marvelous impression of Hoysala sculpture, but in the mean time visiting a few other villages in the neighborhood of Belur and Halebid is very rewarding, because there smaller but complete and beautiful temples can be found. Several of these small temples perfectly show the logic and beauty of Hoysala architecture.

More than a hundred of Hoysala temples survive today but still some temples are in ruins. The Chennakeshava Temple at Honavar is in very bad condition. When we visit this temple we got sad because of negligence of our architecture department.

This temple was built during the period of 1149 by Lakshmayya Heggade who helped establish to Hoysala king NaraShimaha-1 dealing with enemies’ .The temple though small but it is best specimen of Hoysal art .The beautiful carvings seen around the temple & inside the temple is amazing.

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SOMESHWARA TEMPLE, Harnahalli

Grandeur Etched In stone (Part-3)

This is on the out scores of Haranahalli. The traditional bands of architecture and the beautiful line of other wall sculptures in the upper tier are found as usual. The images of deities in this sculpture are excellent.

The main door being on eastern side is furnished with Jalandras and Kakvaasas. Doors are there on the south and the north sides too. In the sanctuary there is a Sivalinga called Someshwara. Round pillars bedeck the Navaranga stretching in front of the sanctuary. The Bhuvaneshwari sealing and the Hoysala features of architectures are very fine to look at. A beautiful peak shines on the top of the sanctuary.

CHENNKESHAVA TEMPLE, Haranahally

Grandeur Etched In stone (Part-2)

Haranahally is a small town which is noted for the remains of an old fort has been erected in 1070 A.D by a Chief named Someswaraya and the 13th century Hoysala temples which are good specimens of Hoysala architecture. Among the more important temples at this place are Chennakeshava and Someshwara, which are good specimens of Hoysala Architecture.

CHENNKESHAVA TEMPLE- Haranahally

Keshva Temple is another fine Hoysala temple in Harnahalli situated at the center of the village.Constructed at 1234 by Nijeswara Bhatta,Sankanna & Gopanna brothers in memory of their father. Keshava Temple is popularly known as Lakshminarasimha Temple. The main sculptor of this temple is Mallithama, one of the best-known Hoysala sculptors of the 13th century.

The temple stands on a raised platform which is about four feet tall. The garbhagriha has the beautiful sculpture of Lord Lakshminarasimha flanked by Prahlada, Garuda and a large numbers of devotees. The soap stone tower has four tiers of turrets carved with images of Yaksha and Tandaveshwara.

The walls above the basement bear the beautifully carved images of different deities. Navaranga, the four pillared hall, enshrines the images of Saraswati, Ganesh, Lakshmi and Bhudevi.

The basement has five flat-faced cornices with friezes of elephants, horsemen and swans.On the outer wall there are the usual architecture bands & above them are 24 forms of Lord MahaVishnu along with the miniature images of several other deities.

Bucheswara temple, Koravangala

Grandeur Etched In stone (Part-1)

Once again it was Rajesh Sir's inspirational heritage trips giving me a opportunity to visit some exquisite heritages with him, so I like to thank him respectively & I plan to dedicate a new series of article as ‘Grandeur Etched In stone’. The first few articles I would like to dedicate for Hoysala’s Temples.

Bucheswara temple: Koravangala

On a fresh early morning we started our journey to visit this temple. Rajesh Sir had arranged a fine taxi to reach this place .Koravangala village contains temples in Hoysala style architecture built in 12th Century A.D. The Bucheswara temple here is an excellent specimen of Hoysala style. This temple was built by Buchiraja.

As per the inscription on that stone document, the area was ruled by Cholas and Butiraja had a fight with Cholas and he lost his 2 sons in the battle but won the battle. Then assended the throne and took oath to build the temple. In the oath taking part Buchiraja and his wife are depicted and the next step they are worshiping Lord Shiva.

Major 3 beautiful temples in this temple complex which is Nageshwara,Govindeshwara & Bucheswrara out of the 3 the temple of Bucheswara which is full of ornamentation,practically represents the whole Hindu pantheon are the finest examples of master craftsmanship.

The Surya shrine opposite to the front hall is also remarkable for its splendid sculpture. Its elaborate and fine carvings attracts the attention of the viewer.

Facing north was the beautiful idol of Marthanda Bairavi, which the king used to worship before the battles. There was small shrine of Biravi, which was locked; this had a uniquely carved "Dwarapalakas" with very different ammunition. On the front side there was a Ganesha idol with six hands.

Outer side there was also beautiful depiction of Prahalad Charitha on the southern wall. Among other notable sculptures was the Varahi (Note this is female form of Varaha Avatar of Vishnu), Kodanda Rama (On the south side), Varaha Avatar (West side), Krishna, Sarswathi (On North side). This temple also has the Hoysala emblem on the top of the temple.

Inside the temple all the ceilings were carved intricately. Inside there are idols of Sapta Matrika, Sarswathi and Surya. Surya and Sarswathi are carved with details and one could see even the nails in the fingers.

Food chain, with a stag being swallowed by python. Elephant was harassing python. A Lion was trying to kill the Elephant and Mythical animal of “Sharaba” (Indian version of the Chinese Dragon) trying to kill Lion. The “Sharaba” was getting hacked by another mythical character “Ganda Berunda”.