Fwd: FW: Wonderful Belavadi temple of Karnataka

[Guest guest]

vijaya raghavan srinivasan <perarulalan wrote: "vijaya raghavan srinivasan" <perarulalanram_krish_hariSubject: FW: Wonderful Belavadi temple of KarnatakaFri, 02 Feb 2007 15:19:26 +0530>"Ramanuja dasargaL" >>Wonderful Belavadi temple of Karnataka>Fri, 2 Feb 2007 13:21:06 +0800>>SrI:>>Dear SrIvaishnavas,>>http://www.pbase.com/svami/belavadi & view=slideshow>>These are extraordinary pictures from SrI. L.Sridhar of Bangalore.>(Lakshminarasimhan Sridhar katandethiandavaneluperan ) . Later he>will send a report on his temple visit and contact

details.>>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>>----->>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.>_______________Want to look more beautiful? Ask Asha Bachani http://content.msn.co.in/Lifestyle/Fashionbeauty/Default.aspx

Check out what you're missing if you're not on Messenger