Hoysala architecture

Detailed history of Hoysala temples and its architecture.

1. HOYSALA ARCHITECTURE

2. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ON HOYSALA ARCHITECTURE NOTABLE TEMPLES FROM HOYSALA ERA TEMPLE DEITIES TEMPLE COMPLEX DETAILED STUDY ON CHENNAKESAVA TEMPLE FACTS ON HOYSALA ARCHITECTURE

3. HOYSALA ARCHITECTURE Building style developed under the rule of Hoysala empire between the 11 th and 14 th century, in the region today known as Karnataka. The Hoysala era (1026 CE – 1343 CE) was an important period in the development of art, architecture, and religion in South India. Well known temples which exhibit an amazing display of sculptural exuberance include : Chennakeshava temple (Belur), Hoysaleshwara temple (Halebidu), Chennakeshava temple (Somananthapura).

4. Throughout the reign of the Hoysala in South India, they built many temples across Karnataka dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. They also built a few temples dedicated to Jain religion as well. Their style of architecture was a mix of North India and South India styles. The temples would have many pillars usually shaped by lathe and carved by artists for years together.

5. TEMPLE LOCATION PERIOD RULER DEITY Lakshmidevi Doddagaddavalli 1113 Vishnuvardhana Lakshmi Chennakesava Belur 1117 Vishnuvardhana Vishnu Hoysaleswara Halebidu 1120 Vishnuvardhana Shiva Rameshwara Koodli 12 th century Vishnuvardhana Shiva Brahmeshwara Kikkeri 1171 Narasimha I Shiva Bucheshwara Koravangala 1173 Veera Ballala II Shiva Amrutheshwara Amruthapura 1196 Veera Ballala II Shiva NOTABLE TEMPLES FROM THE HOYSALA ERA

6. TEMPLE LOCATION PERIOD RULER DEITY Veeranarayana Belavadi 1200 Veera Ballala II Vishnu Kedareshwara Halebidu 1200 Veera Ballala II Shiva Harihareshwara Harihar 1224 Vira Narasimha II Shiva, Vishnu Mallikarjuna Basaralu 1234 Vira Narasimha II Shiva Someshwara Haranhalli 1235 Vira Someshwara Shiva Lakshminarasimha Haranhalli 1235 Vira Someshwara Vishnu Panchalingeshwara Govindanhalli 1238 Vira Someshwara Shiva Sadashiva Nuggehalli 1249 Vira Someshwara Shiva Kesava Somanathapura 1268 Narasimha III Vishnu

7. The Hoysalas usually dedicated their temples to Shiva or Vishnu (two of the popular Hindu Gods), but they occasionally built some temples to the Jain religion as well. Worshippers of Shiva are called Shaivas and worshippers of Vishnu are called Vaishnavas. While King Vishnuvardhana and his descendants were Vaishnava by faith, records show that the Hoysalas maintained religious harmony by building as many temples dedicated to Shiva as they did to Vishnu. Most of these temples have secular features with broad themes depicted in their sculptures. This can be seen in the Chennakeshava Temple at Belur dedicated to Vishnu and in the Hoyleshwara temple at Halebidu dedicated to Shiva. TEMPLE DETIES

8. Temples dedicated to Vishnu are always named after the deity. The names of Shiva temples can end with a suffix eshwara meaning ‘Lord of’. the two main deities found in Hoysala sculpture are Shiva and Vishnu in their various forms and avatars (incarnations) A male figure depicted holding certain objects such as a conch (symbol of eternal, heavenly space) and a wheel (eternal time and destructive power) is Vishnu. If a female figure is depicted holding these objects, she is seen as his consort, Lakshmi. Shiva is usually shown with four arms holding a trident and a small drum . A female icon may sometimes be portrayed with these attributes as Shiva’s consort, Parvati. In all the depictions, Vishnu is holding four objects : a conch, a wheel, a lotus, and a mace. Apart from these, Vishnu is depicted in any of his ten avatars.

9. TEMPLE COMPLEX

10. The focus of a temple is the centre or sanctum sanctorum (garbagriha) where the image of the deity resides so temple architecture is designed to move from the outside to the inside through passageways for circumambulation and halls or chambers (mantapas) that become increasingly sacred as the deity is approached.

11. Porch - Most Hoysala temples have a plain covered entrance porch supported by lathe turned (circular or bell-shaped) pillars which were sometimes further carved with deep fluting and moulded with decorative motifs.

12. Jagati (Platform around the temple) : The temples are built upon a star shaped platform called Jagati raised by about a metre which provide a circulation space ( pradakshinapatha ) around the temple and then lead to the entrance of the mantapas (open hall ). Temples that are not built on a Jagati can have steps flanked by elephant balustrades (parapets) that lead to the mantapa from ground level. (E.g. Bucesvara temple in Korvangla, Hassan District).

13. Walls: The walls of the temple follow a zigzag pattern. The outer walls of the temple will have a sculptural clockwise- sequenced reliefs depicting a sequence of epic scenes from the Hindu epics.

14. Details : The Temples are characterised by a complex profusion of sculpture decorating all the temple parts chiselled of soft soapstone (chlorite schist), a good material for intricate carving, executed mostly by local craftsmen, and exhibit architectural features that distinguish them from other temple architectures of South India.

15. Vimana ( The Shrine ) : In temples with two shrines ( dvikuta ), the vimanas (the shrines or cellae) may be placed either next to each other or on opposite sides. Lakshmidevi temple at Doddagaddavalli has 4 shrines exist at each corner of the courtyard (prakaram) and a fifth shrine within the same complex for the deity Bhairava (a form of Shiva).

16. CHENNAKESAVA TEMPLE LOCATION BELUR, KARNATAKA (ON THE BANKS OF YAGACH RIVER) PERIOD 12 TH CENTURY BUILT BY KING VISHNUVARDHANA MAIN DEITY LORD VUSHNU

17. Chennakesava (handsome kesava ) is a form of the Hindu god Vishnu. It combines elements of North Indian Nagara and South Indian Karnata style architecture. It is also referred to as Keshava, Kesava or Vijayanarayana temple. T he Chennakesava temple is a testimony to the artistic, cultural and theological perspectives in 12 th century South India and the Hoysala Empire rule. The temple was built for 3 generations and it took 103 years to finish. The temple artwork depicts scenes of secular life in the 12 th century, dancers and musicians, as well as a pictorial narration of Hindu texts.

18. The Hoysala period of South Indian history began about 1000 CE and continued through 1346 CE. In this period, they built around 1500 temples in 958 centres . Belur was the early capital of the Hoysala kings and the city was so esteemed by Hosalas that it is referred to as “early Vaikuntha ” (Vishnu’s abode) and “ Dakshina Varanasi” (southern holy city of Hindus) in later inscriptions. Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana commissioned the temple dedicated to Vishnu in 1117 CE after an important military victory in 1116 CE. The king had fought wars with the Western Chalukyas and had also defeated the Cholas. The temple was built after the land’s best architects and artists were recruited and engaged in producing new designs and styles that would be hallmark of the complex. HISTORY

19. Historians have found 118 inscriptions in the temple complex, dated between 1117 CE to the 18 th century, which provide a history of the temple. An inscription on the pedestal of  Vijayanarayana image states that the image was caused to be made by king Vishnu (Vishnuvardhana ). An inscription found on the east wall near the north entrance of the temple's main  mandapa  (hall) states that Vishnuvardhana commissioned the temple for god Vijayanarayana in 1117 CE. Some historians have interpreted this inscription as stating that the Chennakeshava Temple was completed in 1117 CE . The main temple had a  shikara  (superstructure tower) but it is now missing and the temple looks flat. The original tower, suggest the inscriptions, was made of a combination of wood, brick and mortar. It was destroyed and rebuilt several times. INSCRIPTIONS

20. GROUND PLAN OF CHENNAKESAVA TEMPLE

21. The Chennakeshava complex at Belur consists of a 443.5 feet by 396 feet court with several Hindu temples and minor shrines inside a walled compound .  The compound is entered from the east through a Gopuram added during the repairs of the Vijayanagar empire era. DESCRIPTIONS

22. Chennakesava temple, also called as Kesava temple, is the main temple. It is in the middle of the complex, faces east, in front of the gopuram . Including the improvements added later, it is 178 feet by 156 feet. The temple stands on a wide platform terrace ( jagati ) about 3 feet high. The temple is dedicated to Vishnu in the form of Kesava. To the south of the Kesava temple is the Kappe Chennigaraya temple measuring 124 feet by 105 feet.

23. To the west of the Kesava temple is the Viranarayana temple measuring 70 feet by 56 feet. It is a small but complete temple with a navaranga (nine square hall) and a garbhagriha (sanctum) with 59 large reliefs on the outer walls. These reliefs are dedicated to Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma, Bhairava (angry Shiva), Lakshmi, Parvati, Saraswati and others. Some panels depict the Bhima story from the  Mahabharata . The temple is also dated to the 12th century.

24. To the southwest of the Kesava temple is a small temple to Somyanayaki (form of the goddess Lakshmi), also dated to the 12th century . This temple is notable because the local tradition holds that its tower is miniature version of the major tower that once rose above the main Kesava temple . The Andal temple, also called Ranganayaki shrine, is to the northwest of the Kesava temple. Its outer wall are decorated with artwork such as elephants and nature. It also displays 31 large images of deities from the Vaishnavism, Shaivism and Shaktism traditions of Hinduism. It also has intricately carved Venugopala, Mohini and Lakshmi, as well as friezes showing legends in the Puranas.

25. The complex has a number of small shrines. Two main sthambha (pillars) are found in the temple complex. The pillar facing the main temple, the Garuda (Eagle) was erected in the Vijayanagar period. The complex also has a kalyana-mandapa in the southeast corner for ceremonies. It was added in the 17th century . A granary for storing food reserves is found in the northwest corner of the complex. 

26. The navaranga hall has forty eight pillars. All except the central four are carved in a unique way. The central four are later additions to support the internal structure of a damaged temple . All the pillars are constructed using soapstone because they are soft initially and easier to carve. As time passes by eventually exposing it to air, wind and rain, they become harder and harder and get the colour which is slightly darker than the inside of the temples. The artisans in those times made use of Lathe to get the shining round shape for the pillars. The four central pillars are notable for having been hand carved while the others were lathe turned. PILLAR ARCHITECTURE

27. Temple at Somanathapura is divided into 16 parts of the ceiling. They depicts the flowering sequence of the Lotus in each of the square. These temples were attacked many times and almost all the time they broke the idols and sculptures. The ceilings depict different stories in Belur and Halebidu temples. The mantapa ceiling is generally ornate with sculptures, both mythological and floral. The ceiling consists of deep and domical surfaces and contains sculptural depictions of banana bud motifs and other such decorations. CEILING DECORATION

28. The pillars never constructed using any cement or any kind of binding element. They used interlocking system for the whole temple. The building material used in the Chennakesava temple is chloritic schist, more commonly known as soapstone. Few pillars are having 3D carvings. These temples were constructed some 700 years ago without the help of any advanced technology. The temples at Belur and Halebidu are UNESCO sites now and UNESCO officials could not estimate the value of these temples. The Hoysala temples were always constructed in star shape as the old belief goes as ‘A star would never get an eclipse’. All the temples built during Hoysala dynasty have scriptures written in Hale-Kannada (Old Kannada language) in the stones and they have preserved by the Archaeological department of India. The inscriptions are engraved on to a huge slab of stone with all the details of construction of the temples and also few other important details. FACTS ON HOYSALA ARCHITECTURE

29. The ceiling of the temples will depict a different story and each square will have some information to pass on. In those days, when there were no technology for connecting people or educating them, the temples played a major role in educating people though sculptures and scriptures. The design patterns on the outside of the temple in Hoysala architecture will always depict elephants, horses, floral scrolls, Hoysala symbol (a mythical imaginary animal called Makara ). It is imagined to have the mouth of Crocodile, trunk of an elephant, tail of a peacock, body of a boar. Each animal carved is totally different from the other; for e.g. there are around 1000 elephants carved and each elephant were carved to be in 1000 different positions. They are never in same position. Ramayana and Mahabharata stories is depicted throughout the outer walls in their carvings.  You will also find the sculptures of the deities in different forms and poses. The lathe turned pillars and 16 different types of ceiling are a characteristic of the Hoysala architecture. As the Mughals have attacked the Hoysala dynasty few times, they made sure to break the sculptures and tried to destroy our heritage. These border designs too have been destroyed.

30. GROUP MEMBERS LAVANYA NEELAMBURI RUBY TULIN SANJAY KUMAR VINOTHA