Thread by @History_Mystery

#ChennakeshavaTemple of Belur, is a 12th-century temple in the Hassan, Karnataka. It was commissioned by King Vishnuvardhana in 1117 CE, on the banks of the Yagachi River in Belur The temple was built over 3 generations & took 103 years to finish.

1/1

#HistoryEncyclopedia

The temple is dedicated to #Lord Vishnu .The temple is remarkable for its architecture, sculptures, reliefs, friezes as well its iconography, inscriptions and history.

📷1: The entrance gopuram and courtyard of #ChennakeshavaTemple at Belur.

2/2

#HistoryEncyclopedia #History

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.

3/3

#ChennakeshavaTemple is a ekakuta vimana design (single shrine) of 10.5 m by 10.5 m size. It combines elements of North Indian Nagara & South Indian Karnata style architecture. Temple stands on an open & wide platform designed to be a circumambulatory path around sanctum.

4/4

#ChennakeshavaTemple is the main temple. It is in the middle of the complex, faces east, in front of 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.

5/5

#HistoryEncyclopedia

To the south of the #ChennakeshavaTemple is the #KappeChennigarayaTemple measuring 124 feet by 105 feet. It has two sanctums inside, one dedicated to Venugopala and the other to Chennigaraya (local popular name of Chennakeshava, Vishnu).

6/6

#HistoryEncyclopedia #TemplesOfIndia

The temple is called Kappe Chennigaraya because, according to a local legend, a Kappe (frog) was once found near its navel. This smaller temple was built by the queen concurrently with the main temple.

7/7

#HistoryEncyclopedia #TemplesOfIndia #ChennakeshavaTemple

To the west of the #ChennakeshavaTemple is the #ViranarayanaTemple 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.

8/8

#HistoryEncyclopedia #TemplesOfIndia

To the southwest of #ChennakeshavaTemple is a small temple to Somyanayaki (form of the goddess Lakshmi), also dated to 12th century. This temple is notable because local tradition holds that its tower is miniature version of major tower that once rose above the main temple.

9/9

Two main sthambha (pillars) are found in the temple complex. The pillar facing the main temple, the Garuda (eagle) sthambha was erected in the Vijayanagar period.

10/10

#HistoryEncyclopedia #ChennakeshavaTemple

Inside the temple complex on the left side of the gopuram towards the south is a huge 42 feet high pillar carved out of a single stone called Deepastambha.

It is also called an antigravity pillar. It is standing on its own weight on a raised platform without any support.

11/11

The large Navrang Mandapa is adorned with highly polished and richly sculpted 48 pillars and ceilings. The pillars are of different designs and styles. Out of these pillars, the four pillars at the center are the most important.

12/12

#HistoryEncyclopedia #ChennakeshavaTemple

Out of 48 pillars, 4 pillars at the center are most important.

Most remarkable among them are 📷1+2:Mohini pillar on southwest & 📷3: Narsimha pillar on the southeast. Mohini pillar is 16 fluted star-shaped pillars with a large figure of Lord Vishnu in the form of Mohini.

13/13

📷Two styles of light screens used in Navrang Mandapa at #ChennakeshavaTemple: geometric artwork (left) and Puranic stories artwork.

📷2: Pillar of the Navrang Mandapa.

14/14

#HistoryEncyclopedia #TemplesOfIndia #Belur #temples #History

According to Kannada folklore, there was young man called Sala who saved his Guru from tiger by striking with a sword. Since “strike” in old Kannada was called “Hoy”, hence, the name Hoysala.

📷Sala killing tiger {Hoysala Emblem}

15/15

#HistoryEncyclopedia #ChennakeshavaTemple

The temple entrance on the east is decorated with Makara Torana. The overhead panel on the main door depicts the ten avatars or forms of Lord Vishnu.

16/16

#HistoryEncyclopedia #ChennakeshavaTemple #Belur #TemplesOfIndia #Temples #History

Above the perforated screens, on capitals of the supporting pillars, are madanakai (Salabhanjika) figures. There were originally 40 madanakai, of which 38 have survived in damaged or good form.

17/17

#HistoryEncyclopedia #ChennakeshavaTemple #Belur #History

The #ChennakeshavaTemple has three entrances and their doorways have decorated sculptures called dvarapalaka (doorkeepers) on either side.

18/18

#HistoryEncyclopedia #TemplesOfIndia #Belur #History #GreatIndianArt

📷1: 4 central pillars are notable for having been hand carved while others were lathe turned.

📷2: One of 4 ceiling dome madanikas, with an inscription on pedestal.

📷3: One of 4 Pillar at central square of Navaranga.

Each pillar is unique in design & arrangement.

19/19

📷1: CloseUp of beautifully carved Mohini #sculpture at Mohini Pillar.

📷2: You can see here that Mohini pillar made hollow from inside out of a single stone, carved so delicately.

📷3: Inside square sanctum is image of Keshava or as inscriptions call it Vijayanarayana.

20/20

📷1: Shilabalika (celestial maiden) with mirror, popularly known as 'DARPAN SUNDARI'.

📷2: Shilabalika

📷3:Decorative panel comprising miniature towers.

📷4:Gajasurasamhara: Shiva slaying the demon Gajasura.

21/21

#HistoryEncyclopedia #ChennakeshavaTemple #Belur

4 central pillars are crowned by 4 bracketed figures at the top corner. These figures are the finest specimen of Hoysala craftsmanship.

📷1: Shuka Bhashini – a lady in conversation with her pet parrot.

📷2: Queen Shantaladev.

📷3: Gandharva dance.

📷4: Kesh Shringara.

22/22

There are 38 bracketed figures angled between the outer wall & overhanging eaves around walls of Navaranga mandapa and the Garbhagriha. These bracketed figures are filigreed and adorned with beauties called as Madanikas in a various dancing pose and other rituals like👇👇

23/23

📷1: A monkey pulling the saree of a madanika.

📷2: Madanika aiming an arrow.

📷3: A madanika in Tribhangi Mudra with the body bent at three places.

📷4: Madanika playing Rudra Veena.

24/24

#HistoryEncyclopedia #ChennakeshavaTemple #Belur #TemplesOfIndia

Many aspects are beautifully depicted on the walls of the Garbhagriha like:

📷1: Lord Narasimha killing Hiranyakashyipu.

📷2: Ravana lifting Kailasha mountain.

📷3: Sun God.

25/25

#HistoryEncyclopedia #ChennakeshavaTemple #Belur #TemplesOfIndia #Temples

📷: From outside of the south shrine: 16-armed Narayana seated on a lotus upheld by a 4-armed Garuda, carries attributes (photo left to right) of club, spoon, skull staff, conch, sword, drum, chakra, and other attributes, some of which are hidden behind the visible arms.

26/26

📷1+2: Lintel sculptures on the east entrance(Main) further close up to show up the Narasimha and Garuda below that.

📷3+4: Ornate Bay ceilings in Mandapa.

27/27

#HistoryEncyclopedia #ChennakeshavaTemple #Belur #TemplesOfIndia

📷1: Common design found on the roof.

📷2: The epicenter of the central dome with Narasimha protruding out of the Dome.

📷3: Ceiling of Navrang mandapa.

28/28

#HistoryEncyclopedia #ChennakeshavaTemple #Belur #TemplesOfIndia