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Chenna Keshava
Temple
The Magnificent shrine dedicated to Lord Vijayanarayan, one
of the twenty four incarnations of Vishnu, was built to commemorate the victory
of Hoysalas over the Cholas in the great battle of Talakkad. Some also believe
that it was constructed when Vishnuvarhana adopted Vaishnavism under the
influence of the great guru Sri Ramanujacharya. Its construction commenced in
1116 A.D., at the instance of king Vishnuvardhana, later on his son and
grandson completed the work. According to historical records, it took about 103
years to complete this profusely sculpted masterpiece of Hoysala architecture.
The huge temple complex enclosed by high walls has a garbha griha (sanctum
sanctorum), a sukhanasi (vestibule), a navaranga mandapa and many smaller
shrines, mandapams and other structures. There are two gateways, but only one
is crowned by a gopuram, which was built in 1397, by Gunda, a general of
Harihara II, after the original Mahadwara was burnt down by Ganga Salar, a
officer of Tughalaks during the invasion and seize of the shrine. The star shaped main sanctum is a homogenous architectural
unit set on a raised platform in the centre of a spacious paved courtyard
surrounded by subsidiary shrines and colonnades. Its towering vimana had to be
dismantled in 1879, to protect the main sanctum. The three gateway of the
sanctum, facing east, north and south and the bracket figures supporting the
eaves of the walls are masterpieces of craftsmanship. Virtually every inch of the shrine is intricately carved.
The outer walls are adorned with jagati or railed platform sculpted with
horizontal rows of friezes with carvings of elephants, simhalatas or lions and
scrolls of small female figures in ornamental niches and intersected here and
tehr by larger vertical images. And no two friezes in the complete range are
alike. The lower friezes are not so extesively carved as in other Hoysala
temples, but the work higher up on the wall is simply outstanding. The lowest
of these carved bands has 650 caparisoned elephants in different moods, some
charging, some playful and some just peacefully standing. Singularly beautiful are the 38 freestanding bracket figures
angled between the upper walls and the over-hanging eaves around the outside of
the temple and navranga (pillared hall). The brackets are adorned with
voluptuous beauties known as Madanikas in various dancing and ritual postures
and depicts an amazing variety sculpted forms. The temples doors are also
exquisitely carved with outstandingly beautiful filigree work. The main doorway
bears the Hoysala motif and the overhead panel on the main door of the ten forms of lord Vishnu. The makar or crocodile symbol
is prominently carved here and can also be seen in other Hoysala structures.
The main sanctum enshrines a beautifully ornamented 6 ft. high image of Chenna
Keshava, literally meaning the ‘Beautiful’ Keshava in Kannada language. The
large navranga mandapam is noted for its polished pillars and ceiling. The
carved domed ceiling of the navaranga is a visual feat of exceptional beauty.
Kappe (frog) Chennigarya
Temple
This small shrine resembling the main temple
lies directly to the south of the main sanctum. It is dedicated to Kappe
Chennigaraya and was consecrated by Shantala Devi, the senior queen of king
Vishnuvardhana, who herself followed Jainism.
Veera Narayana
Temple
The small but beautiful shrine is located to the west of
Keshava temple and is dedicated to Veera Narayana or Lakshmi Narayana. Its
outer walls are decorated with large images. Other shrines in the complex areof Saumyanayki, Goddess
Andal, Ramanujacharya, Krishna, Narasimha, Anjuaneya and
Ramachandra. |
