Hoysala architecture is a distinctive style of temple architecture that flourished in the region of Karnataka, India. During the 11thand 14th centuries, the rulers of Hoysala dynasty gave importance to art and architecture, especially for the temples. These temples are adorned with intricate and ornate designs, and exquisite carvings depicting various deities that narrate mythological tales preserving the heritage.
5 Significant Temples Of Hoysala Art In Shikaripura And Gubbi
Kedareshwara Temple
On the way from Shiralakoppa, the Kedareshwara temple on the edge of the lake is still in good condition. It was also known as Kodiyamatha. Even today, the remains of the mutt can be seen in this premises. The temple complex houses kedareshwar and nagareshwar temples. The construction work, which began in the 11th century, continued and peaks with chalukya style influence were created in the 12th century. The hall and the navarangas were constructed. The Kedareshwar temple is a trikuta structure.
In the middle is the Kedareshwar Linga, with the idol of Keshava on its left and Brahma on the right in the form of a Linga. There is only one Navaranga, including all these. Its hall has a beautiful Kakshasana. This mandapa is held up by 16 pillars. It is named as Lathamantapa in inscriptions and the edges of the mandapa have a sloping pattern. Nataraja and Ashtadikpala are seated in the middle vitana. It was the sages of Kodimatha who pooled resources in the construction of the temple. The inscription supports the construction of the hall by sculptors Bisadoja, Chaoja and Singoja. Warangal in Andhra Pradesh has a famous Kakatiya structure called Ramappa Temple.
The Kedareshwar peak has sculptures of Nataraja and Bhairava on the sides, with idols of Kali to the north. There are sculptures of Lord Rama, Narasimha, Vishnu and Varaha on the peak where Lord Keshava is located. There are sculptures of Natya Saraswati, Bhairava, Nataraja and Umamaheswara on the peak of Bahmalingeshwara. At the site of Sukanasi, a huge emblem of the Hoysalas is placed on a stone-like structure, opposite the western and southern peaks. Just as there is plenty of material available to those interested in history, the sculptures here have enough artistic beauty to satisfy the kalopasakas.
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Tripurantakeshwara temple
The temple Built by the Western Chalukyas, the temple influenced the Hoysalas. The structure of the jalandras inside this temple is astonishing. The skills found here are later adopted by the Hoysalas in their works. Though the temple does not look attractive from the outside, the artistic beauty inside is stunning. It has a circumambulatory path of the tall Jagati and within its premises are the ruined Shivalayas and monasteries. It seems to have been built in the late 11th century. It was a quadrupedal structure. To the east was the Sun Temple. It is no longer visible. There is a list of sculptures on the outer wall. There are stories of the Panchatantra. It can be inferred that not many sculptures are shown on the outer wall as the mandapa is given importance.
There is a mahamantapa connecting two temples. There is a square platform in the centre. The idol of Nandi seen in the east of the mandap is very beautiful. This Nandi Mandapam is unique and the sculptures in it are beautiful. The idols of the dwarfs there may have been made for use to hold the stone girls. On the inner bodhis, there is evidence of madanika idols as in Belur. The sculptures found in the Navaranga are like kannadigas captured by the craftsmanship of the artists of Balligave. Later he developed his art and became famous all over the country.
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Someshwara Temple
The Someshwara Temple is a very attractive structure when viewed from the outside. The temple has a tala design of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala and mukhamantapa. Built in the 13th century, the temple has sculptures of elephants at the entrance and jalandras on the sides of the gate. The mahout’s head was chopped off and the pillion rider’s face was not damaged as it was part of the stone. The entrances of The Doorwada and Sukhanasi are well carved. A flower pot is built along the outer wall. Apart from this, pictures of inscriptions displayed inside the temple complex are also given.
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Channakeshava Temple
Located 7 km west of Banasandra railway station in Tiptur taluk of Tumakuru district, it is a village famous for its ancient architecture. There are two beautiful temples here, Channakeshava and Kaleshwara. Channakeshava Temple is a beautiful temple with garbhagriha, sukanasi and navarangas built of sandstone in Hoysala style of architecture. The Channakeshava temple is facing east and there are beautiful pillared verandahs inside the entrance. It must have been built in the mid-13th century by a sculptor named Honoja.
In the outer prakara there are sculptures of elephants, horses, valis, lathes and processions of idols. The pillars of Navaranga have a unique architectural design than those at Belur Halebidu. There are ten Bhuvaneswaris together. In each of them, the swastika, the banana mothe-like structures are refreshing. The Ganapati idol on the right side of the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum and Mahishasuramardini on the left stand in a very graceful posture. There is a recent idol of Ugranarasimha facing the south wall of the temple.
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Kalleshwara Temple
Nittur, a famous Jain abode, is also known as a Saiva centre during the Hoysala period, as evidenced by the Kalleshwara (inscriptional Swayambhu Kalideva) temple at Pura, adjacent to Nittur. There is an inscription in this temple which contains information about donations made to the Kaleshwara temple at Pura during the reign of Hoysala king Narasimha II in 1227 AD. Perhaps this temple was built earlier.
The inscription states that Mahapradhana Kumara Narasinga Dandanayaka, the son of Naganna, who was the heifer of shradhana to Hiriyarasi Padmaladevi (queen of Ballala II), the mother of Narasimha II, donated bhoodan for the rangabhoga, khandasputita and restoration of Swayambhu Kalideva of Nittoor, the great town of Nittur, which was the head of the heruhe country, the navel for Gangavadi and the aihole of the south. This donation was made in the presence of Mahaprabhu Masanagouda and Kala Gowda. Though the original form of the Kalleshwara temple, which has been renovated from time to time, is not visible today, the half-pillars of the entrance, the original linga, the inscriptions, the idols and the hero stones testify to the hoysala period.
The east-facing temple has rangamantapa, navaranga, antarala and sanctum sanctorum, all of which were built during the palaegara period. There is a Swayambhu-type Shivalinga in the sanctum sanctorum and a Nandi idol in the inner most part of the sanctum sanctorum. The Navaranga has idols of Ganapati and Kalabhairava belonging to the Hoysala period. At present, the outer walls of the temple are in a bad condition. There is a dilapidated stone temple on the outer side of the temple which is also likely to have been built during the palaegara period. The temple, which has Shivalinga and Nandi idols, is on the verge of collapse.
Some hero stones are preserved in the temple premises. Despite the vast space, the temple is surrounded by vegetation and lack of cleanliness and maintenance. There are devotees in many villages around this temple and if maintained properly, the temple will survive for future generations.
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Also Read;
The Symbolism Of Remembrance In Architecture (thearchspace.com)
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