Detailed history of Hoysala temples and its architecture.

1. HOYSALA ARCHITECTURE

2. CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ON HOYSALA ARCHITECTURE
NOTABLE TEMPLES FROM HOYSALA ERA
TEMPLE DEITIES
TEMPLE COMPLEX
DETAILED STUDY ON CHENNAKESAVA TEMPLE
FACTS ON HOYSALA ARCHITECTURE

3. HOYSALA ARCHITECTURE
Building style developed under the rule of Hoysala empire
between the 11th and 14th century, in the region today known as
Karnataka.
The Hoysala era (1026 CE – 1343 CE) was an important period in
the development of art, architecture, and religion in South India.
Well known temples which exhibit an amazing display of
sculptural exuberance include : Chennakeshava temple (Belur),
Hoysaleshwara temple (Halebidu), Chennakeshava temple
(Somananthapura).

4. Throughout the reign of the Hoysala in South India, they built many
temples across Karnataka dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.
They also built a few temples dedicated to Jain religion as well.
Their style of architecture was a mix of North India and South India
styles.
The temples would have many pillars usually shaped by lathe and
carved by artists for years together.

5. TEMPLE LOCATION PERIOD RULER DEITY
Lakshmidevi Doddagaddavalli 1113 Vishnuvardhana Lakshmi
Chennakesava Belur 1117 Vishnuvardhana Vishnu
Hoysaleswara Halebidu 1120 Vishnuvardhana Shiva
Rameshwara Koodli 12th century Vishnuvardhana Shiva
Brahmeshwara Kikkeri 1171 Narasimha I Shiva
Bucheshwara Koravangala 1173 Veera Ballala II Shiva
Amrutheshwara Amruthapura 1196 Veera Ballala II Shiva
NOTABLE TEMPLES FROM THE HOYSALA ERA

6. TEMPLE LOCATION PERIOD RULER DEITY
Veeranarayana Belavadi 1200 Veera Ballala II Vishnu
Kedareshwara Halebidu 1200 Veera Ballala II Shiva
Harihareshwara Harihar 1224 Vira Narasimha II Shiva, Vishnu
Mallikarjuna Basaralu 1234 Vira Narasimha II Shiva
Someshwara Haranhalli 1235 Vira
Someshwara
Shiva
Lakshminarasim
ha
Haranhalli 1235 Vira
Someshwara
Vishnu
Panchalingeshwa
ra
Govindanhalli 1238 Vira
Someshwara
Shiva
Sadashiva Nuggehalli 1249 Vira
Someshwara
Shiva
Kesava Somanathapura 1268 Narasimha III Vishnu

7. - The Hoysalas usually dedicated their temples to Shiva or Vishnu
(two of the popular Hindu Gods), but they occasionally built
some temples to the Jain religion as well.
- Worshippers of Shiva are called Shaivas and worshippers of
Vishnu are called Vaishnavas.
- While King Vishnuvardhana and his descendants were
Vaishnava by faith, records show that the Hoysalas maintained
religious harmony by building as many temples dedicated to
Shiva as they did to Vishnu.
- Most of these temples have secular features with broad themes
depicted in their sculptures. This can be seen in the
Chennakeshava Temple at Belur dedicated to Vishnu and in the
Hoyleshwara temple at Halebidu dedicated to Shiva.
TEMPLE DETIES

8. - Temples dedicated to Vishnu are always named after the
deity.
- The names of Shiva temples can end with a suffix eshwara
meaning ‘Lord of’.
- the two main deities found in Hoysala sculpture are Shiva
and Vishnu in their various forms and avatars (incarnations)
- A male figure depicted holding certain objects such as a
conch (symbol of eternal, heavenly space) and a wheel
(eternal time and destructive power) is Vishnu. If a female
figure is depicted holding these objects, she is seen as his
consort, Lakshmi.
- Shiva is usually shown with four arms holding a trident and a
small drum . A female icon may sometimes be portrayed
with these attributes as Shiva’s consort, Parvati.
- In all the depictions, Vishnu is holding four objects : a conch,
a wheel, a lotus, and a mace.
- Apart from these, Vishnu is depicted in any of his ten
avatars.

9. TEMPLE COMPLEX

10.  The focus of a temple is the
centre or sanctum
sanctorum (garbagriha)
where the image of the
deity resides so temple
architecture is designed to
move from the outside to
the inside through
passageways for
circumambulation and halls
or chambers (mantapas)
that become increasingly
sacred as the deity is
approached.

11.  Porch -Most Hoysala
temples have a
plain covered
entrance porch
supported by lathe
turned (circular or
bell-shaped) pillars
which were
sometimes further
carved with deep
fluting and moulded
with decorative
motifs.

12.  Jagati (Platform around the
temple) :
- The temples are built upon a
star shaped platform called
Jagati raised by about a
metre which provide a
circulation space
(pradakshinapatha) around
the temple and then lead to
the entrance of the
mantapas (open hall).
- Temples that are not built on
a Jagati can have steps
flanked by elephant
balustrades (parapets) that
lead to the mantapa from
ground level. (E.g. Bucesvara
temple in Korvangla, Hassan
District).

13.  Walls:
⁻ The walls of the temple
follow a zigzag pattern.
⁻ The outer walls of the
temple will have a
sculptural clockwise-
sequenced reliefs
depicting a sequence of
epic scenes from the
Hindu epics.

14.  Details :
The Temples are
characterised by a
complex profusion of
sculpture decorating all
the temple parts chiselled
of soft soapstone (chlorite
schist), a good material
for intricate carving,
executed mostly by local
craftsmen, and exhibit
architectural features that
distinguish them from
other temple
architectures of South
India.

15.  Vimana ( The Shrine ) :
⁻ In temples with two shrines
(dvikuta), the vimanas (the
shrines or cellae) may be
placed either next to each
other or on opposite sides.
⁻ Lakshmidevi temple at
Doddagaddavalli has 4
shrines exist at each corner
of the courtyard
(prakaram) and a fifth
shrine within the same
complex for the deity
Bhairava (a form of Shiva).

16. CHENNAKESAVA TEMPLE
LOCATION
BELUR, KARNATAKA (ON THE
BANKS OF YAGACH RIVER)
PERIOD 12TH CENTURY
BUILT BY KING VISHNUVARDHANA
MAIN DEITY LORD VUSHNU

17.  Chennakesava (handsome kesava)
is a form of the Hindu god Vishnu.
 It combines elements of North
Indian Nagara and South Indian
Karnata style architecture.
 It is also referred to as Keshava,
Kesava or Vijayanarayana temple.
 The Chennakesava temple is a
testimony to the artistic, cultural
and theological perspectives in
12th century South India and the
Hoysala Empire rule.
 The temple was built for 3
generations and it took 103 years
to finish.
 The temple artwork depicts scenes
of secular life in the 12th century,
dancers and musicians, as well as
a pictorial narration of Hindu
texts.

18.  The Hoysala period of South Indian history
began about 1000 CE and continued through
1346 CE. In this period, they built around 1500
temples in 958 centres.
 Belur was the early capital of the Hoysala
kings and the city was so esteemed by Hosalas
that it is referred to as “early Vaikuntha”
(Vishnu’s abode) and “Dakshina Varanasi”
(southern holy city of Hindus) in later
inscriptions.
 Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana commissioned
the temple dedicated to Vishnu in 1117 CE
after an important military victory in 1116 CE.
 The king had fought wars with the Western
Chalukyas and had also defeated the Cholas.
 The temple was built after the land’s best
architects and artists were recruited and
engaged in producing new designs and styles
that would be hallmark of the complex.
HISTORY

19.  Historians have found 118 inscriptions in
the temple complex, dated between 1117
CE to the 18th century, which provide a
history of the temple.
 An inscription on the pedestal
of Vijayanarayana image states that the
image was caused to be made by king
Vishnu (Vishnuvardhana).
 An inscription found on the east wall
near the north entrance of the temple's
main mandapa (hall) states that
Vishnuvardhana commissioned the
temple for god Vijayanarayana in 1117
CE. Some historians have interpreted this
inscription as stating that the
Chennakeshava Temple was completed in
1117 CE.
 The main temple had
a shikara (superstructure tower) but it is
now missing and the temple looks flat.
The original tower, suggest the
inscriptions, was made of a combination
of wood, brick and mortar. It was
destroyed and rebuilt several times.
INSCRIPTIONS

20. GROUND PLAN OF CHENNAKESAVA TEMPLE

21. The Chennakeshava
complex at Belur
consists of a 443.5
feet by 396 feet
court with several
Hindu temples and
minor shrines inside
a walled
compound. The
compound is entered
from the east
through
a Gopuram added
during the repairs of
the Vijayanagar
empire era.
DESCRIPTIONS

22.  Chennakesava temple,
also called as Kesava
temple, is the main
temple. It is in the middle
of the complex, faces
east, in front of the
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. The temple is
dedicated to Vishnu in the
form of Kesava.
 To the south of the Kesava
temple is the Kappe
Chennigaraya temple
measuring 124 feet by
105 feet.

23.  To the west of the Kesava
temple is the Viranarayana
temple 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.
These reliefs are dedicated
to Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma,
Bhairava (angry Shiva),
Lakshmi, Parvati,
Saraswati and others.
Some panels depict the
Bhima story from
the Mahabharata. The
temple is also dated to the
12th century.

24.  To the southwest of the Kesava
temple is a small temple to
Somyanayaki (form of the
goddess Lakshmi), also dated to
the 12th century. This temple is
notable because the local
tradition holds that its tower is
miniature version of the major
tower that once rose above the
main Kesava temple.
 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.
It also has intricately carved
Venugopala, Mohini and
Lakshmi, as well as friezes
showing legends in the Puranas.

25.  The complex has a
number of small
shrines.
 Two main sthambha
(pillars) are found in the
temple complex. The
pillar facing the main
temple, the Garuda
(Eagle) was erected in
the Vijayanagar period.
 The complex also has a
kalyana-mandapa in the
southeast corner for
ceremonies. It was
added in the 17th
century.
 A granary for storing
food reserves is found
in the northwest corner
of the complex.

26.  The navaranga hall has forty eight
pillars. All except the central four are
carved in a unique way. The central
four are later additions to support the
internal structure of a damaged
temple.
 All the pillars are constructed using
soapstone because they are soft
initially and easier to carve. As time
passes by eventually exposing it to air,
wind and rain, they become harder
and harder and get the colour which
is slightly darker than the inside of
the temples.
 The artisans in those times made use
of Lathe to get the shining round
shape for the pillars.
 The four central pillars are notable for
having been hand carved while the
others were lathe turned.
PILLAR ARCHITECTURE

27.  Temple at Somanathapura is divided
into 16 parts of the ceiling.
 They depicts the flowering sequence
of the Lotus in each of the square.
 These temples were attacked many
times and almost all the time they
broke the idols and sculptures.
 The ceilings depict different stories in
Belur and Halebidu temples.
 The mantapa ceiling is generally
ornate with sculptures, both
mythological and floral. The ceiling
consists of deep and domical
surfaces and contains sculptural
depictions of banana bud motifs and
other such decorations.
CEILING DECORATION

28. 1. The pillars never constructed using any cement or any kind of
binding element. They used interlocking system for the whole
temple. The building material used in the Chennakesava temple
is chloritic schist, more commonly known as soapstone.
2. Few pillars are having 3D carvings. These temples were
constructed some 700 years ago without the help of any
advanced technology.
3. The temples at Belur and Halebidu are UNESCO sites now and
UNESCO officials could not estimate the value of these temples.
4. The Hoysala temples were always constructed in star shape as
the old belief goes as ‘A star would never get an eclipse’.
5. All the temples built during Hoysala dynasty have scriptures
written in Hale-Kannada (Old Kannada language) in the stones
and they have preserved by the Archaeological department of
India. The inscriptions are engraved on to a huge slab of stone
with all the details of construction of the temples and also few
other important details.
FACTS ON HOYSALA ARCHITECTURE

29. 6. The ceiling of the temples will depict a different story and each
square will have some information to pass on. In those days,
when there were no technology for connecting people or
educating them, the temples played a major role in educating
people though sculptures and scriptures.
7. The design patterns on the outside of the temple in Hoysala
architecture will always depict elephants, horses, floral scrolls,
Hoysala symbol (a mythical imaginary animal called Makara). It
is imagined to have the mouth of Crocodile, trunk of an
elephant, tail of a peacock, body of a boar.
8. Each animal carved is totally different from the other; for e.g.
there are around 1000 elephants carved and each elephant were
carved to be in 1000 different positions. They are never in same
position.
9. Ramayana and Mahabharata stories is depicted throughout the
outer walls in their carvings. You will also find the sculptures of
the deities in different forms and poses.
10. The lathe turned pillars and 16 different types of ceiling are a
characteristic of the Hoysala architecture.
11. As the Mughals have attacked the Hoysala dynasty few times,
they made sure to break the sculptures and tried to destroy our
heritage. These border designs too have been destroyed.

30. GROUP MEMBERS
LAVANYA
NEELAMBURI
RUBY TULIN
SANJAY KUMAR
VINOTHA