HOYSALA HOYSALA ARCHITECTURE ARCHITECTURE

CHARCTERISTICSCHARCTERISTICS

Presented By :Presented By :Sucheta singhSucheta singh15250331525033

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION• Hoysala architectureHoysala architecture is the building style developed is the building style developed

under the rule of the Hoysala Empire between the under the rule of the Hoysala Empire between the 11th and 14th centuries, in the region known today 11th and 14th centuries, in the region known today as Karnataka.as Karnataka.

• Hoysala influence was at its peak in the 13th Hoysala influence was at its peak in the 13th centurycentury, when it dominated the Southern Deccan , when it dominated the Southern Deccan Plateau region.Plateau region.

• Large and small temples built during this era Large and small temples built during this era remain as examples of the Hoysala architectural remain as examples of the Hoysala architectural style, including the style, including the Chennakesava Temple at Belur, Chennakesava Temple at Belur, the Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebidu, and the the Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebidu, and the Kesava Temple at Somanathapura.Kesava Temple at Somanathapura.

• Study of the Hoysala architectural style has Study of the Hoysala architectural style has revealed a negligible Indo-Aryan influence while the revealed a negligible Indo-Aryan influence while the impact of Southern Indian style is more distinct. impact of Southern Indian style is more distinct.

• Some three hundred temples are known to survive Some three hundred temples are known to survive in present-day Karnataka state and many more are in present-day Karnataka state and many more are mentioned in inscriptions, though only about mentioned in inscriptions, though only about seventy have been documented.seventy have been documented.

Chennakesava Temple, BelurChennakesava Temple, Belur

Hoysaleswara Temple, HalebiduHoysaleswara Temple, Halebidu

Kesava Temple at Somanathapura.Kesava Temple at Somanathapura.

Chennakeshava Temple, Chennakeshava Temple, BelurBelur

• The Chennakeshava Temple, originally called The Chennakeshava Temple, originally called Vijayanarayana Temple, was built on the banks Vijayanarayana Temple, was built on the banks of the Yagachi River in Belur, by the Hoysala of the Yagachi River in Belur, by the Hoysala Empire King Vishnuvardhana.Empire King Vishnuvardhana.

• Belur, which was an early Hoysala capital, is in Belur, which was an early Hoysala capital, is in the Hassan district of Karnataka state, India. the Hassan district of Karnataka state, India.

• It is 40 km from Hassan city and 220 km from It is 40 km from Hassan city and 220 km from Bangalore. Bangalore.

• Belur is well known for its marvelous temples Belur is well known for its marvelous temples built during the rule of the Hoysala dynasty, built during the rule of the Hoysala dynasty, making it and nearby Halebidu favored tourist making it and nearby Halebidu favored tourist destinations in Karnataka state.destinations in Karnataka state.

• These temple complexes have been proposed to These temple complexes have been proposed to be listed underbe listed under UNESCO World Heritage SitesUNESCO World Heritage Sites.

ChennakeshavaChennakeshavaTempleTemple

HistoryHistory• The temple was commissioned by King The temple was commissioned by King

Vishnuvardhana in 1117 AD.Vishnuvardhana in 1117 AD.

Shrine outer wall with friezes on vertical Shrine outer wall with friezes on vertical sections below eves in Chennakeshava sections below eves in Chennakeshava temple at Belur.temple at Belur.

Temple ComplexTemple Complex• The The main entrance to the complex is crowned by a main entrance to the complex is crowned by a

Rajagopura (superstructure over entrance)Rajagopura (superstructure over entrance) built during built during the days of the Vijayanagar empire.the days of the Vijayanagar empire.

• Within the complex, the Chennakesava temple is at the Within the complex, the Chennakesava temple is at the centre, facing east, and is flanked by the Kappe centre, facing east, and is flanked by the Kappe Channigraya temple on its right, and a small Channigraya temple on its right, and a small Sowmyanayaki (form of the goddess Lakshmi) temple Sowmyanayaki (form of the goddess Lakshmi) temple set slightly back. set slightly back.

• Two main sthambha (pillar) exist here. The pillar facing Two main sthambha (pillar) exist here. The pillar facing the main temple, the the main temple, the Garuda (eagle) sthambhaGaruda (eagle) sthambha was was erected in the Vijayanagar period while the pillar on the erected in the Vijayanagar period while the pillar on the right, the Deepa sthambha (pillar with lamp) dates frright, the Deepa sthambha (pillar with lamp) dates from om the Hoysala period. the Hoysala period.

• This is theThis is the first great Hoysala temple first great Hoysala temple, though according , though according to the art critic and historian Settar, the artistic idiom to the art critic and historian Settar, the artistic idiom and signature is still Western Chalukyan. Hence, the and signature is still Western Chalukyan. Hence, the over-decoration which is seen in later Hoysala temples over-decoration which is seen in later Hoysala temples (including the Hoysaleswara temple at Halebidu and the (including the Hoysaleswara temple at Halebidu and the Keshava temple at Somanathapura) is not visible here. Keshava temple at Somanathapura) is not visible here.

• The Chennakesava temple has three entrances and The Chennakesava temple has three entrances and their doorways have decorated sculptures called their doorways have decorated sculptures called dvarapalaka (doorkeepers) on either side. dvarapalaka (doorkeepers) on either side.

• While the Kappe Channigraya temple is smaller While the Kappe Channigraya temple is smaller than the Chennakesava temple, it is architecturally than the Chennakesava temple, it is architecturally significant, though it lacks any sculptural features. significant, though it lacks any sculptural features.

Entrance at Chennakesava Entrance at Chennakesava temple.temple.

Rajagopura Rajagopura (superstructure over (superstructure over entrance)entrance)

Decorated Sculptures Decorated Sculptures called Dwarapalaka called Dwarapalaka (Doorkeepers(Doorkeepers))

Garuda StambhaGaruda Stambha

Small Shrines at Chennakesava TempleSmall Shrines at Chennakesava Temple

The Ranganayaki templeThe Ranganayaki temple The Soumyanayaki templeThe Soumyanayaki temple

Kappe Chennigaraya templeKappe Chennigaraya temple Compact and ornate Compact and ornate Veeranarayana templeVeeranarayana temple

Temple PlanTemple Plan• The building material used in the Chennakesava The building material used in the Chennakesava

temple is chloritic schist, more commonly known as temple is chloritic schist, more commonly known as soapstone or potstone,and is essentially a simple soapstone or potstone,and is essentially a simple Hoysala plan built with extraordinary detail.Hoysala plan built with extraordinary detail.

• What differentiates this temple from other Hoysala What differentiates this temple from other Hoysala temples of the same plan is the unusually large size of temples of the same plan is the unusually large size of the basic parts of the temple.the basic parts of the temple.

• The temple is a ekakuta vimana design (single shrine) The temple is a ekakuta vimana design (single shrine) of 10.5 m by 10.5 m size.of 10.5 m by 10.5 m size.

• A large vestibule connects the shrine to the mandapa A large vestibule connects the shrine to the mandapa (hall) which is one of the main attractions of the (hall) which is one of the main attractions of the temple. The mandapa has 60 "bays".temple. The mandapa has 60 "bays".

• The superstructure (tower or Shikhara) on top of the The superstructure (tower or Shikhara) on top of the vimana has been lost over time.vimana has been lost over time.

• The temple is built on a jagati (platform for The temple is built on a jagati (platform for circumabulation).There is one flight of steps leading to circumabulation).There is one flight of steps leading to the jagati and another flight of steps to the mantapa. the jagati and another flight of steps to the mantapa.

• The mantapa here was originally an open one. A The mantapa here was originally an open one. A visitor would have been able to see the ornate pillars visitor would have been able to see the ornate pillars of the open mantapa from the platform.of the open mantapa from the platform.

• The open mantapa was converted into a closed one The open mantapa was converted into a closed one after about fifty years, during the Hoysala rule. after about fifty years, during the Hoysala rule.

BEFOREBEFOREOpen Open MantapaMantapa

AFTERAFTERClosed MantapaClosed Mantapa

PillarsPillars • The pillars inside the hall are an attraction The pillars inside the hall are an attraction

and the and the most popular one is the Narasimha most popular one is the Narasimha pillar.pillar.

• According to the historian Kamath, there is a According to the historian Kamath, there is a rich diversity about the pillar styles here.rich diversity about the pillar styles here.

• While While all the forty eight pillars are unique all the forty eight pillars are unique and and the many ceiling sections are well decorated, the many ceiling sections are well decorated, nothing surpasses the finish of the four nothing surpasses the finish of the four central pillars and the ceiling they support.central pillars and the ceiling they support.

• These pillars may have been These pillars may have been hand chiseled hand chiseled while the others were lathe turned.All of these while the others were lathe turned.All of these four pillars bear madanikas.four pillars bear madanikas.

• There are 42 of them in the temple complex, There are 42 of them in the temple complex, one each on the four central pillars inside the one each on the four central pillars inside the hall and the remaining 38 are outside, hall and the remaining 38 are outside, between the eaves on the outer walls of the between the eaves on the outer walls of the hall.They are hall.They are also called shilabalika and also called shilabalika and represent the ideal female form.represent the ideal female form.

Pillars bearing load of Madanika.Pillars bearing load of Madanika.

Ornate lathe turned pillars in mantapa, a Ornate lathe turned pillars in mantapa, a standard Hoysala idiomstandard Hoysala idiom

Shilabalika in the Chennakesava temple at Belur.Shilabalika in the Chennakesava temple at Belur.

SculpturesSculptures• Interesting sculptures inside the mantapa are Interesting sculptures inside the mantapa are

Sthamba buttalika Sthamba buttalika (pillar with an image in frieze) (pillar with an image in frieze) which is more in the Chola style indicating that the which is more in the Chola style indicating that the Hoysalas may have employed Chola craftsman along Hoysalas may have employed Chola craftsman along with locals.with locals.

• At the base of the outer walls are friezes of charging At the base of the outer walls are friezes of charging elephants which symbolize stability and strength, elephants which symbolize stability and strength, above which are lions which symbolize courage, and above which are lions which symbolize courage, and further up are horses which symbolize speed. Above further up are horses which symbolize speed. Above the horses are panels with floral designs signifying the horses are panels with floral designs signifying beauty above which are sculptures with depictions beauty above which are sculptures with depictions from the Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the from the Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Mahabharata.

• According to Kamath, this style of articulation is called According to Kamath, this style of articulation is called horizontal treatment with friezes.horizontal treatment with friezes.

• The sculptural style of the wall images bear The sculptural style of the wall images bear similarities withsimilarities with wall sculptures in contemporary wall sculptures in contemporary temples of ntemples of northern Karnataka and adjacent orthern Karnataka and adjacent Maharashtra.Maharashtra.

Famous Sculptures at Famous Sculptures at Chennakesava temple, Chennakesava temple,

BelurBelur

NarasimhaNarasimha GajasursamharaGajasursamhara

GarudaGaruda

BhairavaBhairava

Sun God - Surya Sun God - Surya VaharaVahara

More to see...More to see...

Ornate doorjamb, lintel and guardians (Jaya and Ornate doorjamb, lintel and guardians (Jaya and Vijaya) of the shrine of the Hindu god Vishnu in Vijaya) of the shrine of the Hindu god Vishnu in Chennakeshava temple at BelurChennakeshava temple at Belur

Miniature shrines Miniature shrines with Bhumija style with Bhumija style superstructure at superstructure at entrance to entrance to Chennakeshava Chennakeshava temple at Belurtemple at Belur

Decorative panel comprising miniature towers (aedicule) Decorative panel comprising miniature towers (aedicule) and Hindu deities in relief below eves at Chennakeshava and Hindu deities in relief below eves at Chennakeshava temple, Belurtemple, Belur

Decorative frieze on moldings at Chennakeshava Decorative frieze on moldings at Chennakeshava temple. Belur.temple. Belur.

Thank you....Thank you....