KESHAV TEMPLESOMANATAPURA

ABOUT TEMPLE

KESHAV TEMPLE is the famous temple built by Architect

Jakanachari in year 1268 A.D at somanathpur, lies on left bank of

cauvery.

It is said to be finest example of Hoysala Architecture.

The material used for the temple is soapstone (Green schist)

The Architect/Sculptor was Ruvari Malithamma.

It is also symmetrical in its design, it has 3 shrine, triple celled

temple.

The temple has star shaped plan and stands on basement which is

beautifully carved, with rows of elephant, marching horses in

second row, valis in third row, swan in top row and other interest

scenes based on great epics.

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

The temple stands on a jagati (platform) and the threevimanas are

located at the back and are connected by a common rectangular

closed mantapa.

Inside the temple, each vimana has a vestibule that connects it to

the main rectangular mantapa(hall).

The wide jagati invites devotees to follow the ritualistic

clockwise circum-ambulation before entering the hall.

The full effect of the rectangular hall is seen only when the

temple profile is viewed.

The hall has sixteen bays.

All the three shrines are 16 pointed stellate (star-shaped) in design

and their towers follow the same pattern.

The whole structure looks like a rhythmic progression of well

decorated projections and recesses (called architectural

articulation).

The ceilings are carved with intricate geometric figure.

The sikharas or towers missing in many Hoysala temples are

found here.

There are three towers constructed on three cells, in

horizontal tiers, are separated vertically by angles and quoins

to nearly two third of the height and the remaining one third

crowned by ‘amalaka’ in the form of inverted lotus-flowers.

Plan of the

Temple

Entrance

Domical bay ceiling in the mantapa

Image of the Hindu god Krishna playing a flute in a sanctum of the keshav temple, Somanathapura

Deity sculpture on

shrine outer wall

Minor shrine (aedicula) inside temple

Deity sculpture on shrine

outer wall

Old Kannada inscription

(1270 AD)

KESHAVA TEMPLE,

BELUR

KESHAV TEMPLE at BELURThe Chennakesava Temple, originally

called Vijayanarayana Temple

The temple is built BY VISHNU-VARDHAN to

commemorate his victory over the cholas is the most

exquisite specimen of hoysala style.

The temple which stand on a platform 54m x48 m.

It has star shaped plan and contains the garbha-griha

,a sukhanasi and a navaranga i.e central pillared hall.

The vijaya deep stamba or victory pillar is installed

in front of the temple.

ENTERANCE

• It has three enterance on East, South (Friday enterance ) and

north (heavenly enterance).

• The eastern enterance faces the Mahadwara.

The enterance is carved most beautifully by carving on its

jambs the figure of ‘madan’ (cupid) and rati ( his consert).

The southern entrance doorway is full of delicated carving

nearly eight in number such as dieties demon animals etc.

The most notable wall figure is the seen mount kailasa being

lifted by ravan,the king of lanka,who extort to boon from shiva

.

The northern entrance doorway contains carved figure of

female chauri (fly-whisks) bearers.

The sukhnasi doorway with makaratorana is flanked by two dwarpalakas which are beautifully carved

On the side in the front of temple there are two fine pavallions containing figure of bhairava and durga at east entrance and that of tandaveshwar and brahma and south entrance and vishnu and mahishasur mardini at north entrance .

Each doorway has the typical hoysala marg that is the king sala progenitore of hoysala family ,killing a tiger .

Beginning from the sides of main doorway runs a jagatior railed parapet on which are sculptured eight friezes or beautifully carved .

PILLARS

The navrangana with its beautifully carved ceiling and highly polished pillar piece of architecture.

One such Narshima pillar apparently used to relovearound it.

The south west pillar has a figure of dancing saraswatiwhose head ornament can be moved.

The capitals of these pillars are of bracket-typecontaining intricately carved figures- Mandanikas such as beauty and parrot, drum dance, mohini dance.

SHRINE• There is also a small shrine Kappe Channi-garaya temple in

the courtyard.

• It recollects to the mind of pilgrim,the legend of how the well known sculptor Jakanchari carved the image but his son Dankachari found defect in it,having a living frog(Kappe) in the body of image.

• With this ultimate defeat from his son,the great sculpture Jakanachari cut of his right hand.

• The story further states that he had a dream that if he built another temple to the same god Keshavswami at his native palaces, his hand would be restored.

• He later on completed another keshav temple and got his hand restored. Since then krida-pura came too be known as kai-dala or hand restore.

Outerwall

design

Hoysala

emblem

Ornate sanctum door

jamp, lintel, door keepers

and stambha buttalika

pillar

Decorated Pillars in

Chennakeshava

Temple at Belur

THANK YOU..

SUBMMITED TO-

AR.PRAGYA MISHRA

SUBMMITED BY-

SIMRAN BHUGRA

SANPREET KAUR