Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Nuggehalli
Lakshminarasimha temple at Nuggehalli | |
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Hassan | |
Deity | Vishnu |
Location | |
Location | Nuggehalli |
State | Karnataka |
Country | India |
Geographic coordinates | 13°00′39.4″N 76°28′31.3″E / 13.010944°N 76.475361°E |
Architecture | |
Type | Hoysala |
Creator | Bommanna Dandanayaka |
Completed | c. 1246 CE |
The Lakshmi Narasimha temple is a 13th-century Hindu temple with
The temple is notable for its
Location and date
Nuggehalli, also referred to as Nuggihalli or Nuggelli, is located in Channarayapatna taluk of Hassan district in Karnataka state, India. It is located on the Tiptur-Channarayapatna state highway and is about 50 km from Hassan city (NH 75, SH 47). It is about 80 km southeast of Halebidu, and is well connected by road with Bangalore, the state capital.[2]
The town was called Vijaya Somanathapura before the 14th-century and gained importance as an agrahara (place of learning) during the time of Bommanna Dandanayaka. The Lakshmi Narasimha temple was built in 1246 CE by Bommanna Dandanayaka, a commander in the
Description
This is a good example of a richly decorated Hoysala temple built in the trikuta (three towers)
The size of the original temple can be considered small, to which a larger open mantapa(hall) was later added. The three shrines are located around a central closed ranga-mantapa with 9 "bays" (compartment between four pillars).
From outside, the temple actually looks like a ekakuta (single tower and shrine) temple because the two lateral shrines are simple extensions of the wall of the mantapa. Their towers are a later addition. This is a classic example of a trikuta (three shrines and towers) that looks like a ekakuta.[12][13] A large open hall with tall pillars was added during later times making the original porch and closed mantapa look like the inner portion of the temple. The central shrine has five projections per side and the tower is complete though has lost its kalasha (decorative structure on top).[12][10][14] Since the shrine is square in plan, the topping roof (a helmet like sculptured stone) follows the same plan. There are three tiers of decorative smaller roofs bearing their own kalasa that form the body of the main tower.[14] The superstructure on top of the vestibule (forming the nose) has only two tiers of decorative roofs. This is why the sukanasi looks like an extension of the main tower. The two lateral shrines also have five projections per side. The top of these shrines and the wall of the mantapa are crowned with a row of decorated roofs just like the main shrine.[3][12][14]
According to art critic Gerard Foekema, the temple is of a "newer" Hoysala style,
The six moldings at the base of the wall is divided into two sections. Starting from the base where the wall meets the jagati, the first horizontal lmolding contains procession of elephants, above which are a horsemen, and a band of foliage on the third. The second horizontal section starts with depictions from the Hindu epics and puranic scenes executed with detail. Above this are two friezes of yalis (or makara, an imaginary beast) and hamsas (swans). The vimana tower is divided into three horizontal sections and is even more ornate than the walls.[3][15][18][19]
The images in the panels are mostly
Gallery
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Moldingbas-reliefon the circumambulatory path around the temple at the Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Nuggehalli
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Temple's base moldings with Relief sculpture at Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Nuggehalli
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Hindu deities and aediculae in relief at Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Nuggehalli
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The original temple on the jagati, view from northwestern corner
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Krishna Goverdhandhara
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Durga Mahisasuramardini
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Dancing Ganesha
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Garuda
Notes
- ^ R Narasimhachar (1915), Annual Report Archaeological Survey of Mysore June 1913, pp. 2–3 with Plate II
- ^ a b Foekema (1996), p. 83.
- ^ a b c d "A haven for architecture lovers". Spectrum, Deccan Herald, Tuesday, April 26, 2005. Archived from the original on 10 February 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
- ^ Quote:"Most Hoysala temples are either ekakuta (one tower), dvikuta (two towers) or trikuta, Foekema (1996), p. 25
- ^ Quote:"The Western Chalukya carvings were done on green schist (Soapstone). This technique was adopted by the Hoysalas too, Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent, Takeo Kamiya
- ^ Quote:"This is a Hoysala innovation, Arthikaje, Mangalore. "History of Karnataka-Religion, Literature, Art and Architecture in Hoysala Empire". © 1998-00 OurKarnataka.Com, Inc. Archived from the original on 4 November 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
- ^ Quote:"The Jagati is in perfect unity with the rest of the temple", Foekema (1996), p. 25
- ^ Quote:"A bay is a square or rectangular compartment in the hall", Foekema, p. 52, p. 93
- ^ Quote:"This is a common feature of Western Chalukya-Hoysala temples", Kamath(2001), p. 117
- ^ a b c Quote:"It is on the sukanasi that the Hoysala crest is placed". The crest consists of a sculpture of "Sala" the mythical founder of the empire, fighting the lion. Foekema (1996), p. 22
- ^ a b Foekema, (2001), p. 85
- ^ a b c Fokema (1996), p. 84
- ^ Quote:"Often in Hoysala temples, only the central of the three shrines has a tower. So the term trikuta may not literally by true", Foekema (1996), p. 24
- ^ a b c Quote:"water pot like decorative stone structure on top of the tower. This is often lost over the centuries and normally seen replaced by a metallic pinnacle", Foekema (1996), p. 27
- ^ a b c Foekema (1996), p. 85
- ^ Quote:"An eaves is a projecting roof, overhanging the wall", Foekema (1996), p. 93
- ^ Kamath (2001), p. 134
- ^ Foekema (1996), p. 24
- Percy Browncalls this one of the distinguishing features of Hoysala art", Kamath (2001), p. 134
- ^ Foekema (1996), p.85, M S Dwarakinath. "A haven for architecture lovers". Spectrum, Deccan Herald, Tuesday, April 26, 2005. Decan Herald. Archived from the original on 10 February 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
References
- Suryanath U. Kamath (2001). A Concise History of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter books, MCC, Bangalore (Reprinted 2002).
- Gerard Foekema, A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples, Abhinav, 1996 ISBN 81-7017-345-0
- "A haven for architecture lovers". Spectrum, Deccan Herald, Tuesday, April 26, 2005. Archived from the original on 10 February 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
- "History of Karnataka, Religion, Literature, Art and Architecture in Hoysala Empire, Arthikaje". © 1998-00 OurKarnataka.Com, Inc. Archived from the original on 4 November 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2006.