Veera Narayana temple, Belavadi

The Veera Narayana temple is located in Belavadi ( _kn. ಬೆಳವಾಡಿ), also known as Ekachakranagara, a village in Chikmagalur district of Karnataka state, India. The temple was built by the Hoysala Empire. Belavadi is located 29 km southeast of Chikmagalur town on the Chikmagalur-Javagal highway and 10 km north of Halebidu. It is located at a very convenient distance from the famous temple towns of Belur and Halebidu and a visit to this quiet town is a rewarding experience.

Veeranarayana temple

This ornate "trikuta" (three toweres) temple was built in 1200 CE by Hoysala Veera Ballala II. The material used is Chloritic schist. Dr. S.U. Kamath "A Concise History of Karnataka", pp 136. The Western Chalukya carvings were done on green schist (Soapstone). This technique was adopted by the Hoysalas too, cite web|title=Architecture of the Indian subcontinent, 20 September 1996|url=http://www.indoarch.org/|author=Takeo Kamiya |publisher=Gerard da Cunha-Architecture Autonomous, Bardez, Goa, India|work=|accessdate=2006-11-26] Each of the shrines has a complete superstructure (tower on top of shrine) and is one of the largest examples of Hoysala architecture. While the famous temples at Belur and Halebidu are known for their intricate sculptures, this temple is known for its architecture.Gerard Foekema, "A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples", pp 53]

The plan of this temple is unique in that two of the shrines face each other on either side of a wide and spacious open "mantapa" (hall) containing 37 bays.A bay is a square or rectangular compartment in the hall, Gerard Foekema, "A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples", pp 93] There is also an older shrine containing a closed "mantapa" with 13 bays and a closed "mantapa" with 9 bays at the end of which is a central shrine. This third shrine is an older construction and exhibits a perfect Hoysala architectural idiom containing all the basic elements of Hoysala temple.Gerard Foekema, "A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples", pp 53] The inner walls of the older shrine are plain but its roof is well decorated. In all, the temple has 59 bays, indicating the use of many pillars, most of which are lathe turned and hence bell shapedThis is a common feature of Western Chalukya-Hoysala temples, "A Concise History of Karnataka", pp 117, Dr. S.U. Kamath] while others have carvings on them. The outer wall of the temple shows the older Hoysala style where there is one eaves running around the temple where the superstructure meets the wall of the shrine and below this are decorative towers on pilasters. A panel of Hindu deities and their attendants are below these miniature towers followed by a set of five different mouldings forming the base of the wall.An eaves is a projecting roof, overhanging the wall, Gerard Foekema, "A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples" pp 93]

The newer structure containing the two symmetrical shrines have different plans. One shrine is square while the other is star shaped. The tower of the shrine below the "kalasa" water pot like structure at the peak of the tower, Gerard Foekema, "A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples" pp 27] consists of three tiers of decorated miniature roofs. They also have different shaped "Sukanasi"tower on top of vestibule connecting hall and shrine, Gerard Foekema, "A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples" pp 22] which consist of two tiers of decorated miniature roofs. In all other aspects the two shrines are identical. All shrines have well sculptured decoration on the towers and the sculptures on the walls are bold and look good from a distance.] The important sculptures with fine finish are that of Lord Krishna dancing on the head of "Kalia" the serpent and "Garuda" (eagle). This is a Vaishnava temple and all three shrines have images of Lord Vishnu in different forms. The central shrine (older shrine) has an convert|8|ft|m|abbr=on tall image of "Narayana" with four hands which is considered one of the best examples of Hoysala art. It is well elaborated with ornamentation standing on a "padmasana" (lotus seat), the southern shrine has an convert|8|ft|m|abbr=on tall image of "Venugopala" including a "garuda" pedestal (Krishna with flute) and the northern shrine has a convert|7|ft|m|abbr=on tall image of "Yoganarasimha", sitting in a yoga posture.cite web|title=Belavadi exudes Hoysala’s beauty |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/may92006/spectrum15441200658.asp|author=I Sesunathan|publisher=Decan Herald|work=Spectrum, Deccan Herald, Tuesday, May 9, 2006|accessdate=2006-11-26.] "Kirtimukhas" (demon faces) are used to make the "vimana" (prayer hall) towers ornate along with other sculptures.

Notes

References

* Gerard Foekema, A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples, Abhinav, 1996 ISBN 81-7017-345-0
* Dr. Suryanath U. Kamath, A Concise history of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter books, 2001, MCC, Bangalore (Reprinted 2002)
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External links

* [http://www.chickamagalurcity.gov.in/tourism.html Chikamagalur City Muncipal Council]