Kamala Narayana Temple, Degaon ( Degamve / Devgram )

Kamala Narayana Temple is at Degaon ( Degamve / Devgram ) [cite web
url= http://www.deccanherald.com/CONTENT/Jun122007/spectrum200706116881.asp
title=Kadamba glory
publisher=
accessdate=2008-09-03] in Belgaum District, North Karnataka.

Degaon is 5 km from Kittur, 10 km from Halasi and 24 km from Bailhongal.

It is famous for Kadamba style Kamala Narayana temple, place with rich antiquity.

The place name might have originated from its temple complex Devagrama meaning a village of God. The magnificient Kamala Narayana Temple, built by the Kadamba queen, Kamaladevi in the 12th century. The sculptures are breathtakingly beautiful. Lions and floral motifs vie with dancing girls for attention.

Kadamba Kannada Insciption at Kamala Narayana Temple

History

The Kadambas were known for their own style of temple building. The dynasty was founded by Mayura Sharmain about 4th century AD. Halasi in Belgaum District was their second capital where there are some temples built by the Kadamba rulers. The Kamala Narayana Temple in Devgram [cite web
url= http://www.indoarch.org/place.php?placelink=R%3D5%2BS%3D18%2BP%3D226%2BM%3D1051
title=Monuments in Degamve , KAMALA NARAYANA TEMPLE
publisher=
accessdate=2008-09-03] is quite well-known. The Hoysalas, probably impressed by the beauty of the structure, have used similar styles in the temples built by them.

Kadamba Style

The distinguishing feature of the Kadamba style is the tapering terraced tower, a perfect pyramid, the vigorous and purposeful line of each of these terraces attracting the eye even from a long distance. The Kadamba style would seem to have reached its perfection in the 'Kamala Narayana Temple at Degamve. It is a typical example of a temple built in this style which had come under the Hoysala influence. It was constructed by Tippoja, the architect of God Bankesvara at the command of Kamala Devi, the queen of the Goa Kadamba King Sivachitta, in the middle of the 12th century.

Kamala Narayana Temple

The temple is rectangular in shape and consists of three cells with the pillared hall running from North to South in front of the shrines on the west side. Each of these shrines is divided into two parts, Garbhagriha and Sukhanasi. The frames of the doorways of the Sukhanasi are carved with creepers. The pieced stone windows which surround the doorways are 'more ornamental than in any other Kadamba temple. The Garbhagihas have, as in other Kadamba temples, the dedicatory block with the image of Gaja-Lakshmi.

Three cells

* The first cell contains the image of Narayana.

* The second cell has the icon of Lakshmi-Narayana with Lakshmi seated on the lap of Vishnu. Garuda and Maruti are standing on either side of this image.

* The third cell bears the image of Kamala with two attendants on either side.

walls of the temple

The walls of the temple are adorned with niche having plasters surmounted by terraced pyramidal towers in the Kadamba style crowned with a Kalasha. On the parapets surrounding the Mukhamandapa.

The following friezes are sculptured from top to bottom

* pillars with roaring lions between them

* pyramidal towers surmounting these pillars and having dancing girls in various poses between them and

* beautiful scroll work on top.

ceiling

The ceiling has pendant lotuses, all of them artistic pieces of workmanship remarkable for "'richness of ornamentation and elaboration of details"'.