Have you ever wondered what the Hoysala Architecture looks like? For many years, you may have been exploring famous Indian architectural styles such as Mughal, Dravidian ,Vijayanagara, etc. One of its unique kind of Indian-born style is the Hoysala architecture.
Let us delve into the examples of the impressive temples in the Hassan region.
4 Indian-Born Style Hoysala Art Temple In Hassan
Govindeshwara Temple
Govindeshwara temple located close to the Bucheshwara temple in Koravangala, Govindaraja, who built this temple, was an officer in the administration of Hoysala Narasimha I. The temple has a nine-column navaranga with sukanasi and garbhagriha. The mukha mandapa, which opens in the north-south direction, belongs to the Navaranga. There is a star-shaped peak like octaves. The outer wall with patterns of various peaks is attractive just like the Bucheshwara temple. According to inscriptions, the temple was built in 1180 and shows Mahishasura Mardini in the centre of Bhuvaneswari. It is surrounded by ashtadikpalaks. There is also a sun temple in the premises of this temple. Its ornate melancholic doorwear and sukanasi are impressive.
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Nageshwara Temple
The twin temples of Hari-Hara are found separately in the village of Mosale in Hassan district. The name of the Shiva temple is Nageswara, while the Vishnu temple is built in the name of Channakeshava, the family deity of the Hoysalas. The temple is located at a distance of 15 km from Hassan town. The name of this village is now known as crocodile, but it is said to be an abbreviation of musala (onake). The Hoysala king Veeraballala II c.e. It is believed to have been built in 1200. The techniques and schemes adopted while constructing two temples of similar shape attract attention. The broad-minded sculptors appear to have expressed the king’s opinion in sculpture.
The design style of the two temples is kept the same, and the idols to be placed in them and the philosophies they are supposed to reflect are effectively articulated. Similarly, saiva idols such as Mahishasura Mardini, Saptamatrikas, Saraswathi and Ganapati are found in the Nageswara temple, while the Channakeshava temple gives importance to the avatars of Lord Vishnu and various postures. Garuda, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu, is featured in particular. According to inscriptions, the Nageswara temple was built by Naganna Nayaka, a general during the reign of Hoysala Veera Someshwara and was built in 1250. With all the features of Hoysala architecture, simple single-towered structures. At the entrance, there is a square porch or navaranga with a high peak on top that looks unique.
The peak is 2×2 meters in size and is the largest share of dome carving. There is a beautiful kalash at the top of the tower. The main entrance of the temple does not have a star-shaped verandah facing east and the temple is situated at the ground level. The decorative features found on the outer wall of this monogamous temple are of an ancient type. The most important of the sculptures here are the images of Sridevi, Gauri, Maheshwari and Bhoodevi, Brahma, Lakshminarayana, Sadashiva etc. The jagati shields on either side of the porch have fallen off. All the four arms of the main entrance have beautiful vine coil and other decorative carvings. At the top are five small gopurams and an expertly carved outcrop Gajalakshmi. At the bottom are the gatekeepers. On the roof of the porch there is a lotus carving inside the chachauka. Tandaveswara is carved where the lotus bud is. Around the lotus there is a depiction of ashtadikpalakas, instrumentalists, dancers, makaratorana, etc. The beautiful carving of the manual at the top attracts attention.
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Sri Soumyakeshava Temple
Sri Soumyakeshava and Sri Lakshmi Varada Yoga-Bhoga Narasimha Temples Hassan district is a mine of Hoysala sculptures. Mine – Because a lot of temples in this district have to be lifted from the ground. The richness of hoysala sculpture here is not as complete as digging or digging it. It has been said several times in the past. If god and temples are as lucky as man, then all glory is there. The four temples of Shantigrama have the opportunity to regain such glory and have been renovated from time to time and are adorning the undying richness of art.
The important temples here are Sri Soumyakeshava Temple, Sri Dharmeshwara Temple, Sri Veerabhadra Temple and Sri Lakshmi Varada Yoga-Bhoga Narasimha Temple. Sri Soumyakeshava Temple The oldest of the four temples here, the Soumyakeshava temple, was originally built by the Cholas. From the time it was rebuilt after it came under the control of Shantala, the worship has been going on continuously for almost 1200 years till date. The temple has been rebuilt at a cost of around Rs 17 lakh by the Ancient Temples Development Trust of Dharmasthala. Though there are no special structures on the outer wall of the Soumyakeshava temple, the sculptures of Dasavatara are attractive. Initially, a rajagopuram and peaks are attached to the temple. It is commendable that the beauty of this revived temple has not faded even after a century and a half. There are inscriptions available proclaiming the antiquity of this temple.
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The Trikuta Basadi
The Trikuta Basadi was once a stronghold of Jains, is no longer visible in its original form. However, its structural features have not completely disappeared. It is located eight km south of Shantigrama on the Hassan-Bengaluru highway. Similarly, the crocodile, which is found on the Hassan-Mysore State Highway, travels 13 km to the east of Hosahalli and is home to the past glory of the Jains called Markuli. It is speculated that the original name of this place, popularly known as Markuli today, may have been Manikal. The area is rocky, as if it were right even naturally. A huge collection of rare black-and-green stone is located in the area.
In this village, under the supervision of a Hoysala officer named Buchimayya, who was a Jain admirer, he built the Panchakuta Basadi for the guru Vasupujya Siddhanta Deva. It is believed to have been built in 1172. It was originally known as Shrikaran Basadi. Though the horavarana of this basadi, which was constructed about 900 years ago, is not made up of decorative walls of the Hoysalas, the sculptural beauty of the interior is impressive. Though the Basadi is a Panchakuta, it has three sanctum sanctorums. In the sanctum sanctorum opposite, there is a beautiful black stone statue of Adinatha Tirthankara in a meditative state. In its prabhavali, makaras, stone pillars and mukkodes are beautifully depicted.
The chakraswari idol seen here appears to be cyclical in shape from the point of view of composition as the weapons are cylindrical in shape. For this reason it may have been named Chakreshwari. The idol of Gomedhika Yaksha is also wonderful. The structures in the Vitana of the Navaranga have very clear lines. The combination of shapes found in them illustrates the geometrical perfect knowledge of the artists of the time. The neminatha and parshvanatha idols found in the exterior are the last hoysala structures and are beautifully decorated.
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Also Read;
Prehistoric Architecture – The Stone Age And Early Settlements (thearchspace.com)
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