Veera Narayana Temple, Belavadi
| Viranarayana temple, Belavadi | |
|---|---|
Chikkamagaluru | |
| Deity | Vishnu |
| Location | |
| Location | Belvadi village |
| State | Karnataka |
| Country | India |
  Shown within India  Veera Narayana Temple, Belavadi (Karnataka) | |
| Geographic coordinates | 13°16′55.1″N 75°59′45.9″E / 13.281972°N 75.996083°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Hoysala |
| Creator | Veera Ballala II |
| Completed | c. 1200 CE |
The Veera Narayana temple, also referred to as the Viranarayana temple of Belavadi, is a triple Hindu temple with a complex Hoysala architecture completed around 1200 CE. Close to
The temple has three separate square sanctums connected through an unusually large square ranga-mandapa (103 feet). The main shrine faces east and is dedicated to Viranarayana (Vishnu). The north facing shrine is dedicated to Gopala, while the south facing shrine is for Yoga-Narasimha. The temple was likely expanded in stages before it was damaged in the 14th-century, and some features were added to protect it from further destruction. The notable features of this stellate-style temple include its exquisitely ornamented Vesara superstructures (shikara) with jewelry-like details. Inside are the finely polished galaxy of pillars, some banded as if they are wearing jewels. The ceilings too are unusual panels of figural tableaux depicting Hindu legends about Krishna.[3]
The Veeranarayana temple is a nationally protected monument of India that is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India Bengaluru Circle.[1]
Location and date
Belavadi is 11 kilometres (7 mi) north of
The shrines of Veeranarayana were likely built and expanded over many years, because the slightly newer sections has somewhat lesser height, the way the halls connect, and because the cross section plane of the additions is visible. The oldest section is the shrine for Veeranarayana, likely complete about 1200 CE. Thereafter, the temple was expanded where the supersized ranga-mandapa was added along with the shrines for Gopala and Yoga-Narasimha. These were complete by about 1206 CE or few years thereafter.[3]
Architecture
This ornate trikuta (three shrined) temple was built in 1200 C.E. by
The plan of the temple is unique in that two of the shrines face each other and are located on either side of a wide and spacious open mantapa (hall) containing thirty seven bays.
The two newer shrines have different plans. Both have a square sanctum, with one shrine square in shape as well while the other is star shaped (stellate). The tower of the shrine has the traditional Hindu kalasha (decorative water-pot like structure) below which are three tiers of decorated miniature roofs.[8] The superstructure over each of three shrines is connected to a low protrusion tower called Sukanasi (tower over the vestibule, called "nose" of the main tower)[9] The Sukanasi consist of two tiers of decorated miniature roofs. In all other aspects the two shrines are identical. All shrines have sculptured decoration on the towers, and the sculptures on the walls are bold and are visible from a distance.[10] However, they are not sharp and impressive from close quarters unlike in other Hoysala temples. The important sculptures with fine finish are that of the Hindu god Krishna dancing on the head of Kalia the serpent, and the Garuda (eagle).[10]
This is a
Gallery
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The temple view from its entrance -
Outer mantapa (hall) at Veera Narayana temple in Belavadi -
Innermantapa(hall) in Veeranarayana temple at Belavadi -
Parapet wall relief sculpture in the Veera Narayana temple at Belavadi -
Profile of rear shrine in the Veeranarayana temple at Belavadi -
Profile of rear shrine in the Veeranarayana temple at Belavadi -
View of front right shrine with rear shrine in the background in the Veeranarayana temple at Belavadi -
View of the front left shrine with rear shrine in the background in the Veeranarayana temple at Belavadi -
Profile of the outer mantapa and a shrine in the Veeranarayana temple at Belavadi -
Lintel decoration at entrance into inner closed mantapa in the Veeranarayana temple at Belavadi -
Domical bay ceiling art in outer mantapa of the Veeranarayana temple at Belavadi -
South Western View of Sri Veera Narayana Temple, Belavadi
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Notes
- ^ a b c Viranarayana Temple - Belavadi, ASI
- ^ a b c Foekema (1996), p53
- ^ ISBN 978-81-86526-00-2.
- ^ Kamath (2001), p136. Quote:"The Western Chalukya carvings were done on green schist (Soapstone). This technique was adopted by the Hoysalas", Takeo Kamiya. "Architecture of the Indian subcontinent, 20 September 1996". Gerard da Cunha-Architecture Autonomous, Bardez, Goa, India. Retrieved 26 November 2006.
- ^ Quote:"A bay is a square or rectangular compartment in the hall", Foekema (1996), p93
- ^ Quote:"This is a common feature of Western Chalukya-Hoysala temples", Kamath (2001), p117
- ^ Quote:"An eaves is a projecting roof, overhanging the wall", Foekema (1996), p93
- ^ Quote:"The Kalasha is the water pot like structure at the peak of the tower", Foekema (2001), p27
- ^ Quote:"Tower on top of vestibule connecting hall and shrine", Foekema (1996), p22
- ^ a b Foekema (1996), pp54-55.
References
- Gerard Foekema, A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples, Abhinav, 1996 ISBN 81-7017-345-0
- Dr. Suryanath U. Kamath, A Concise history of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter books, 2001, MCC, Bangalore (Reprinted 2002)
- "Belavadi exudes Hoysala's beauty". Spectrum, Deccan Herald, May 9, 2006. Archived from the original on 9 March 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2006.
- "Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent". Retrieved 26 November 2006.
External links
