Thread by @History_Mystery

#ChennakesavaTemple, also referred to as Keshava Temple is located on the banks of River Kaveri at Somanathapura, Karnataka. It was consecrated in 1258 CE by Somanatha Dandanayaka, a general of the Hoysala King Narasimha III.

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#ChennakesavaTemple is enclosed in a courtyard with pillared corridor of small shrines (damaged). Main temple in center is on a high star-shaped platform with 3 symmetrical sanctums, set in a square matrix.

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The sanctums share a common community hall (sabha-mandapa) with many pillars. The outer walls, the inner walls, the pillars and the ceiling of #ChennakesavaTemple are intricately carved with iconography of Ramayana, Mahabharata & Bhagavata Purana.

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📷1: A part of the Kannada inscription stone at #ChennakesavaTemple entrance.

📷2: View of the temple from the mantapa with inscription rocks.

📷3: Stambha before the gate of the temple.

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#ChennakesavaTemple faces east & is enclosed in a walled courtyard with a major gate (mahadvara). Outside walls before the gate stands a tall pillar, which once had a Garuda statue on top, now missing. Inside the gate, to the left are vertical standing inscription stones.

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📷1:The corridor with small shrines & monastery.

The northern and southern row of small shrines inside the pillared courtyard corridor consists of eighteen single shrine and one linked-double shrine each. 

📷2: Defaced and damaged Jain and Hindu statues in the corridor.

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📷The main #ChennakesavaTemple is built on a jagati, which symbolizes worldly platform. It is about 3 feet high, star-shaped & has stone steps at its east end for visitor to climb up to it. The raised jagati platform circles around main temple with a broad walking space.

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It is the pradakshina patha (circumambulation path) & is supposed to be walked in a clockwise manner in order to pictorially read Ramayana, Mahabharata & Bhagavata Purana legends in correct sequence.

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The outer wall of the main #ChennakesavaTemple consists of parallel horizontal bands of artwork carved above the circumambulatory platform. It has 3 major section, the basement band, the wall band and the top band. 

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The lowest band in basement section is about 6 inches tall & shows a row of elephants mostly marching to left in clockwise direction the devotee is expected to walk. The band above elephants is of horses with armed riders, depicting a military march.

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#ChennakesavaTemple

The band above horsemen friezes is a scroll of nature. It shows flowers, fruits, occasionally some peacocks & wildlife. The band above it depicts legends & spiritual stories found in the Ramayana, Bhagavata Purana  & Mahabharata.

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📷1:Outer walls of mantapa with miniature deity reliefs & common life scenes. Above: couples, some in sexual scenes.

📷2: Krishna with flute, humans & cows listening.

📷3: Devi Lakshmi & God Vishnu in standing posture.

📷4: Mohini, female avatar of God Vishnu.

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📷1: Dancing God Ganesha with sweets.

📷2: Kama with sugarcane stalk.

📷3: Devi Saraswati with the Vedas and her Veena.

📷4: Musicians with musical instruments.

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The tower combines intricate artwork, in a plan that alternates rotating squares with star-shaped 16 petalled lotuses. As the tower rises, interim shikaras are capped with kalashas (कलश).

📷:The ornate tower with interim kalasa.

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The main temple is entered from its east doorway. Inside the door is the Navaranga with usual 9 squares suggested by ancient Hindu texts on temple design.

📷:The interior hall with a place to sit and perforated screens for light.

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📷1: The mandapa is supported by lathe turned pillars.The pillars, except two of them, are of same size.

📷2: Ceiling is intricately decorated. Decorations include multi-petalled lotuses, banana bud motifs based on stepped ponds & snake like knots (symbolising eternity).

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📷 #LordKrishna playing flute in sanctum of #ChennakesavaTemple, Somanathapura. The image of Krishna in sanctum is 4.5 feet high. He wears ear rings, necklaces, armlets, bracelets, finger rings, toe rings, anklets, girdle & jewelled diadem~FACEBOOK

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📷1: Ceiling.
📷2: Ceiling leaves.
📷3: Ceiling opening flower.
📷4: Ceiling, symbolism and social life inside the rim.

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