Wonderful Belavadi temple of Karnataka

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Ramanuja dasargaL <enthralling_archa (AT) (DOT) co.uk>

01-Feb-2007 21:21

Wonderful Belavadi temple of Karnataka

enthralling-archa

 

 

SrI:

 

Dear SrIvaishnavas,

 

http://www.pbase.com/svami/belavadi&view=slideshow

 

These are extraordinary pictures from SrI. L.Sridhar of Bangalore.

(Lakshminarasimhan Sridhar katandethiandavaneluperan ) .

 

 

The Contact detials are:

Sri Srinivasamurthy

Archakar,

Sri Veera Narayana Temple

Belavadi,

Chikkamagalur District

Pin:577146

tel:0826-2242415

 

 

 

 

Please see a report from Deccan Herald (9th May-2006) on this

well-maintained hoysala style temple of Belavadi.(Karnataka).

 

Thanks, DECCAN HERALD

 

-Ramanuja Dasargal

 

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Belavadi exudes Hoysala's beauty

 

Veeranarayana temple at Belavadi village is one of the few well-maintained

monuments of the Hoysala era, writes I Sesunathan.

 

 

Hoysala temples form an important part of Indian architecture. During the

Hoysala period there was a remarkable growth of architectural and cultural

activity. The Hoysala architecture encapsulates the glorious tradition of

Karnataka. Most of the Hoysala monuments are found in the old Mysore

territory.

 

Belavadi is a small village situated 29 kilometres south east of Chikmagalur

on Chikmagalur - Javagal Highway and 10 kilometres North West of Halebid.

Legend has it that the place was the ancient Ekachakranagara of the

Mahabaratha era. It is believed that Bhima slew Bakasura, a giant who

tormented the people living in the area for a cart-load of food every day.

 

The village is now popular for its Veeranarayana temple built during the

Hoysala period. This temple, declared as a protected monument, is one of the

largest Hoysala temples.

 

It is a trikutachala structure with three shrines dedicated to

Veeranarayana, Venugopala and Yoganarasimha. The temple is a fine example of

Hoysala architecture. The west side of the temple consists of a square

garbhagriha, a sukanasi, navaranga and square mukhamantapa.

 

The whole structure has been constructed on a raised platform. The

Veeranarayana shrine has a tower over the sanctum and a large stone kalasa

on the shikara.

 

The navaranga has large bell shaped pillars. The ceiling of the sukhanasi is

a dome with an octagonal gallery and circles above. Inside the garbhagriha

an 8 foot Veeranarayana is placed on the Garuda pedestal. The image is

elegantly carved and elaborately ornamented where the deity is standing in

padmasana with four hands. The idol is said to be one of the best specimens

of Hoysala art.

 

The Mukhamantapa of the Veeranarayana shrine is supported by 22 pillars, 20

of which are round bell-shaped ones and the other two are star-shaped. An

important feature of the temple is the stone bench which runs all round the

edge of the mukhamantapa. It is ornamented with rosettes and plasters.

 

To the east of the temple is a sabhamantapa with sukanasi and a pair of

garbhagrihas facing each other, containing the images of Venugopala and

Yoganarasimha.

 

The image of Venugopala is about 8ft in height inclusive of the Garuda

pedestal and prabhavali. Venugopala sits cross-legged and his fingers are

lifted as if playing the flute. The image of Yoganarasimha is about 7ft

high. Prabhavali where Narasimha, seated in yogic posture, has a band carved

around it to help keep the legs in position. The image has a fine kreeta and

protruding eyes. The towers of Venugopala and Yoganarasimha shrines are

similar to the Veeranarayana shrine and have turrets, ornamented

keerthimukhas and varied sculptures.

 

All the ceiling panels of the temple, except those of the veranda, are well

carved.

 

Some of these ceilings are flat while a majority of them are dome-like

containing intricate geometrical patterns of various designs. The flat

ceilings have the images of Krishna playing on the flute, Kalingamardhana

and Kamsavadha in different postures.

 

To the east of this trikutachala temple is a large inverted cone-like

structure on a high ground with a square hall and a spacious porch. This is

the mahadwara or the main gate-way of the temple. Both entrances of this

structure are flanked by a pair of impressively carved elephants