Belavadi
Encyclopedia
The Veera Narayana temple is located in Belavadi , a village in Chikmagalur district
of Karnataka
state, India. The temple was built by the Hoysala Empire
.This village was also known as Ekachakranagara, a place mentioned in Mahabharatha where Bheemasena killed the demon Bakasura and protected the village and its people. 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. Belavadi is also famous for the Udbhava Ganapati temple. A rock is growing in the form of Lord Ganesha from many decades and now one can clearly distinguish the image of the Lord in the rock. This temple is managed by Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri.
. The material used is Chloritic schist. 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.
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. 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. 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 shaped 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.
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 consists of three tiers of decorated miniature roofs. They also have different shaped Sukanasi 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 8 ft (2.4 m) 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 8 ft (2.4 m) tall image of Venugopala including a garuda pedestal (Krishna with flute) and the northern shrine has a 7 ft (2.1 m) tall image of Yoganarasimha, sitting in a yoga
posture. Kirtimukhas (demon faces) are used to make the vimana (prayer hall) towers ornate along with other sculptures.
Chikmagalur District
Chikkamagaluru is a district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Chikkamagaluru is where coffee was first cultivated in India. The mountains here which are a part of the Western Ghats are the source of rivers like Tunga and Bhadra. Chikkamagaluru district also contains Mullayanagiri; which is the...
of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
state, India. The temple was built by the Hoysala Empire
Hoysala Empire
The Hoysala Empire was a prominent South Indian Kannadiga empire that ruled most of the modern day state of Karnataka between the 10th and the 14th centuries. The capital of the Hoysalas was initially located at Belur but was later moved to Halebidu....
.This village was also known as Ekachakranagara, a place mentioned in Mahabharatha where Bheemasena killed the demon Bakasura and protected the village and its people. Belavadi is located 29 km southeast of Chikmagalur town on the Chikmagalur-Javagal highway and 10 km north of Halebidu
Halebidu
Halebidu is located in Hassan District, Karnataka, India. Halebidu was the regal capital of the Hoysala Empire in the 12th century. It is home to one of the best examples of Hoysala architecture in the ornate Hoysaleswara and Kedareswara temples. Halebidu literally means ruined city...
. It is located at a very convenient distance from the famous temple towns of Belur
Belur
Belur may refer to any of the following:* Belur, Karnataka, town in Karnataka, India* Belur, West Bengal, India, a locality on the west bank of the Hooghly River* Belur Math, the religious abbey located in Belur, West Bengal, India...
and Halebidu
Halebidu
Halebidu is located in Hassan District, Karnataka, India. Halebidu was the regal capital of the Hoysala Empire in the 12th century. It is home to one of the best examples of Hoysala architecture in the ornate Hoysaleswara and Kedareswara temples. Halebidu literally means ruined city...
and a visit to this quiet town is a rewarding experience. Belavadi is also famous for the Udbhava Ganapati temple. A rock is growing in the form of Lord Ganesha from many decades and now one can clearly distinguish the image of the Lord in the rock. This temple is managed by Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri.
Veeranarayana temple
This ornate trikuta (three toweres) temple was built in 1200 CE by Hoysala Veera Ballala IIVeera Ballala II
Veera Ballala II was the greatest monarch of the Hoysala Empire. This is proven by his successes against the Seuna, Southern Kalachuri, and the waning Kalyani Chalukya dynasties. He caused the demise of the Kalyani Chalukya dynasty. His period also saw prolific literary activity in Kannada. He...
. The material used is Chloritic schist. 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.
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. 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. 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 shaped 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.
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 consists of three tiers of decorated miniature roofs. They also have different shaped Sukanasi 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
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
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 8 ft (2.4 m) 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 8 ft (2.4 m) tall image of Venugopala including a garuda pedestal (Krishna with flute) and the northern shrine has a 7 ft (2.1 m) tall image of Yoganarasimha, sitting in a yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
posture. Kirtimukhas (demon faces) are used to make the vimana (prayer hall) towers ornate along with other sculptures.