Somanathapura
Encyclopedia
The Chennakesava Temple located at Somanathapura
is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture
. This temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka (commander) in 1268 under Hoysala king Narasimha III
, when the Hoysala Empire
was the major power in South India.
). This is strictly a Vaishnava temple and there is no depiction of any forms of Hindu God Shiva
. Other sculptures are of depictions of affluence of that age including members of the royal family riding richly decorated chariots, soldiers and commoners riding horses, camel drawn vehicles, dancers, musicians, hunters armed with bows and arrows and accompanied by their dogs, and heading for a hunt. There are sculptures of palaces of kings protected by armed guards, jewellery such as pendants, necklaces, waistbands and rings and of woman with different hair styles as well.
The names of many architects and sculptors have been discovered from which it is evident that the artists were both local and from outside the region. The famous Ruvari Mallithamma, Masanithamma, Chameya, Rameya, Chaudeya and Nanjeya are considered locals while Pallavachari and Cholavachari are thought of as artists from Tamil country.
The temple is housed inside an impressive high wall and the entrance to the complex is through a porch with tall lathe-turned pillars. The material used for the temple is chloritic schist or soapstone
. The main reasons that make the Keshava temple standout amidst the large number of Hoysala monuments are its symmetrical architecture, fine sculptures on equally prominent shrines, and a temple that is surrounded by panels forming a cloister. While there are Hoysala temples with better sculpture and others with better architecture, this temples satisfies all requirements. It was built by the famous architect/sculptor Ruvari Malithamma
who was well-known for his expertise in ornamentation.
The temple which is built on a jagati
(platform) is a trikuta (triple shrined) and fully satisfies the terminology as all vimanas
(shrines) have a superstructure (tower). Inside the temple, each vimana has a vestibule that connects it to the main rectangular mantapa (hall). Like the shrines, all three vestibules also have their own tower which is called the sukanasi (or nose), though it is shorter and hence looks like a low extension of the main superstructure over the shrine. The outer walls of all three shrines, their towers and nose are equally well decorated, making it overall a very well balanced design. The temple stands on a jagati (platform) and the three vimanas are located at the back and are connected by a common rectangular closed mantapa. The jagati closely follows the plan of the temple and there is a gallery with lathe-turned pillars all along the sides of the temple complex which adds to the effect. There is one flight of steps that leads to the jagati and one that leads from the jagati into the mantapa. The wide jagati invites devotees to follow the ritualistic clockwise circumambulation before entering the temple hall. The full effect of the rectangular hall is seen only when the temple profile is viewed. The hall has 16 bays. The outside wall of the hall is well decorated with relief friezes, and pierced windows screens above them.
All the three shrines have a 16 pointed stellate
(star-shaped) design and their towers follow the same pattern. Hence the whole structure looks like a rhythmic progression of well decorated projections and recesses. The number of points make the towers look circular
The temple is of later Hoysala style because it has two eaves running around the temple. The upper eaves is where the tower meets the wall of the shrine. The lower eaves is about a metre below the upper eaves. Between the two eaves are decorative miniature towers (aedicule). Below the lower eaves are a panel of Hindu
deities and their attendants. There are nearly 200 such panels. Below these panels are six horizontal mouldings or frieze
s of equal size with ornate depictions. The six mouldings of the base is divided into two sections. In the lower section, where the jagati meets the temple wall, the orderly placement of friezes starts with sculpted procession of elephants, horsemen and a band of foliage. The upper section has depictions from the Hindu epics and puranic scenes executed with detail, yalis (or makara, an imaginary beast) and hamsas (swans). The Ramayana
is depicted on the friezes on the south side wall, stories of Hindu God Krishna
on the rear and the Mahabharata
on the north side. The overall effect of the decorated towers, wall images, friezes is well balanced.
Somanathapura
The Chennakesava Temple located at Somanathapura is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture. This temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.-Deity and sculptures:The ceiling of the hall...
is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture
Hoysala architecture
Hoysala architecture is the building style developed under the rule of the Hoysala Empire between the 11th and 14th centuries, in the region known today as Karnataka, a state of India. Hoysala influence was at its peak in the 13th century, when it dominated the Southern Deccan Plateau region...
. This temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka (commander) in 1268 under Hoysala king Narasimha III
Narasimha III
Narasimha III . During his rule over the Hoysala Empire, internal feud between the king and his brother Ramanatha ruling from Kannanur came to the forefront. He also had to face invasions from the Seuna who attacked his regal capital. However, Narasimha III was able to inflict defeat on these...
, when 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....
was the major power in South India.
Deity and sculptures
The ceiling of the hall is supported by lathe turned pillars. Between pillars, the ceiling is domed and intricately decorated. These decorations include multi-petalled lotuses, banana bud motifs based on stepped ponds and ananta (snake) knots symbolising eternity. Of the three shrines, one is of Keshava, but the image is missing from the sanctum. The other two shrines house images of Janardhana and Venugopala (the three images are forms of VishnuVishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
). This is strictly a Vaishnava temple and there is no depiction of any forms of Hindu God Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
. Other sculptures are of depictions of affluence of that age including members of the royal family riding richly decorated chariots, soldiers and commoners riding horses, camel drawn vehicles, dancers, musicians, hunters armed with bows and arrows and accompanied by their dogs, and heading for a hunt. There are sculptures of palaces of kings protected by armed guards, jewellery such as pendants, necklaces, waistbands and rings and of woman with different hair styles as well.
The names of many architects and sculptors have been discovered from which it is evident that the artists were both local and from outside the region. The famous Ruvari Mallithamma, Masanithamma, Chameya, Rameya, Chaudeya and Nanjeya are considered locals while Pallavachari and Cholavachari are thought of as artists from Tamil country.
Architecture
Soapstone
Soapstone is a metamorphic rock, a talc-schist. It is largely composed of the mineral talc and is thus rich in magnesium. It is produced by dynamothermal metamorphism and metasomatism, which occurs in the areas where tectonic plates are subducted, changing rocks by heat and pressure, with influx...
. The main reasons that make the Keshava temple standout amidst the large number of Hoysala monuments are its symmetrical architecture, fine sculptures on equally prominent shrines, and a temple that is surrounded by panels forming a cloister. While there are Hoysala temples with better sculpture and others with better architecture, this temples satisfies all requirements. It was built by the famous architect/sculptor Ruvari Malithamma
Ruvari Malithamma
Ruvari Malithamma was a famous architect and sculptor in the 12th century who made many important contributions to temples built by the Hoysala Empire in Karnataka state, India. His contributions greatly enriched the idiom called Hoysala architecture...
who was well-known for his expertise in ornamentation.
Jagati (temple)
Jagati is a term used in Indian temple architecture. A Jagati is a raised surface, platform or terrace upon which the temple is placed....
(platform) is a trikuta (triple shrined) and fully satisfies the terminology as all vimanas
Vimana (shrine)
Vimana is a term for the tower above the Garbhagriha or Sanctum sanctorum in a Hindu temple.-Architecture:A typical Hindu temple in Dravidian style may have multiple gopurams, typically constructed into multiple walls in tiers around the main shrine...
(shrines) have a superstructure (tower). Inside the temple, each vimana has a vestibule that connects it to the main rectangular mantapa (hall). Like the shrines, all three vestibules also have their own tower which is called the sukanasi (or nose), though it is shorter and hence looks like a low extension of the main superstructure over the shrine. The outer walls of all three shrines, their towers and nose are equally well decorated, making it overall a very well balanced design. The temple stands on a jagati (platform) and the three vimanas are located at the back and are connected by a common rectangular closed mantapa. The jagati closely follows the plan of the temple and there is a gallery with lathe-turned pillars all along the sides of the temple complex which adds to the effect. There is one flight of steps that leads to the jagati and one that leads from the jagati into the mantapa. The wide jagati invites devotees to follow the ritualistic clockwise circumambulation before entering the temple hall. The full effect of the rectangular hall is seen only when the temple profile is viewed. The hall has 16 bays. The outside wall of the hall is well decorated with relief friezes, and pierced windows screens above them.
All the three shrines have a 16 pointed stellate
Stellate
Stellate, meaning star-shaped, may refer to:* Stellate cell* Stellate ganglion* Stellate reticulum* Stellate veins* Stellate trichomes on plants* Stellate laceration or incisionWound#Open...
(star-shaped) design and their towers follow the same pattern. Hence the whole structure looks like a rhythmic progression of well decorated projections and recesses. The number of points make the towers look circular
Horizontal treatment
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
deities and their attendants. There are nearly 200 such panels. Below these panels are six horizontal mouldings or frieze
Frieze
thumb|267px|Frieze of the [[Tower of the Winds]], AthensIn architecture the frieze is the wide central section part of an entablature and may be plain in the Ionic or Doric order, or decorated with bas-reliefs. Even when neither columns nor pilasters are expressed, on an astylar wall it lies upon...
s of equal size with ornate depictions. The six mouldings of the base is divided into two sections. In the lower section, where the jagati meets the temple wall, the orderly placement of friezes starts with sculpted procession of elephants, horsemen and a band of foliage. The upper section has depictions from the Hindu epics and puranic scenes executed with detail, yalis (or makara, an imaginary beast) and hamsas (swans). The Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
is depicted on the friezes on the south side wall, stories of Hindu God 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...
on the rear and the Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
on the north side. The overall effect of the decorated towers, wall images, friezes is well balanced.