Changes

#''mandapam'' (open)

#''mandapam'' (open)

#''mukha mandapam'' (porch)

#''mukha mandapam'' (porch)

The ''vimana'' of the Hoysala temple is extremely articulated, artistic and complex in nature and is what attracts the tourists most of all. Gerard Foekema explains:<blockquote>''“Its inside forms a strong contrast to its outside: the inside is simply square in plan with plain walls, hence the name cella, the outside is complicated in plan and is profusely decorated. The outside plan is a star, a staggered square or a combination of star and square, and consequently the walls show many projections and recesses.”<ref>Foekema, Gerard. ''A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples''. New Delhi: Abhinav Publications, 1996. p. 21.</ref>''</blockquote>The ''antarala'' too is plain from the inside and has just the space for the priest to officiate between the devotee and the deity. Its walls are plain or barely decorated from the inside. The mandapams are divided into bays. Their ceilings are decorted with ''padma'' motifs, oral patterns and other decorative motifs. On the outside the walls are profusely decorated, but their decoration is integrated with that of the outer walls of the ''garbha-griha'' and is inconspicuous. It also has a roof in the form of a nose like structure protruding from the ''vimanas''. It is called ''shukanasika''.[[File:Plans of the Maha Mandapam.png|thumb|318.965x318.965px|''Plans of the Maha Mandapam''|link=http://dharmawiki.org/index.php/File:Plans_of_the_Maha_Mandapam.png]]In most Hoysala temples, the closed ''mandapam'' has either no windows, or perforated windows which let in some light. It has thick walls. It is a large hall and hence there are four pillars to support the roof. Both outside and inside of the ''mandapam'' are decorated. The pillars are the famous lathe-turned and the ceilings of the bays of the ''mandapam'' are exquisitely decorated. It is large but smaller than the open ''mandapam''.

The ''vimana'' of the Hoysala temple is extremely articulated, artistic and complex in nature and is what attracts the tourists most of all. Gerard Foekema explains:<blockquote>''“Its inside forms a strong contrast to its outside: the inside is simply square in plan with plain walls, hence the name cella, the outside is complicated in plan and is profusely decorated. The outside plan is a star, a staggered square or a combination of star and square, and consequently the walls show many projections and recesses.”<ref>Foekema, Gerard. ''A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples''. New Delhi: Abhinav Publications, 1996. p. 21.</ref>''</blockquote>The ''antarala'' too is plain from the inside and has just the space for the priest to officiate between the devotee and the deity. Its walls are plain or barely decorated from the inside. The mandapams are divided into bays. Their ceilings are decorted with ''padma'' motifs, oral patterns and other decorative motifs. On the outside the walls are profusely decorated, but their decoration is integrated with that of the outer walls of the ''garbha-griha'' and is inconspicuous. It also has a roof in the form of a nose like structure protruding from the ''vimanas''. It is called ''shukanasika''.

 

In most Hoysala temples, the closed ''mandapam'' has either no windows, or perforated windows which let in some light. It has thick walls. It is a large hall and hence there are four pillars to support the roof. Both outside and inside of the ''mandapam'' are decorated. The pillars are the famous lathe-turned and the ceilings of the bays of the ''mandapam'' are exquisitely decorated. It is large but smaller than the open ''mandapam''.

The open ''mandapam'' has an intricate plan. It is a staggered square of many sizes and variations. The number of pillars and bays vary here and the open ''mandapam'' of Veera Narayan temple Belavadi has one of the largest open ''mandapams'' of any Hoysala temple.

The open ''mandapam'' has an intricate plan. It is a staggered square of many sizes and variations. The number of pillars and bays vary here and the open ''mandapam'' of Veera Narayan temple Belavadi has one of the largest open ''mandapams'' of any Hoysala temple.

== Veera Narayana Temple ==

== Veera Narayana Temple ==

The Veera Narayana temple, Belavadi is built in soapstone like all other Hoysala temples. Soapstone is of three kinds: whitish, greenish and blackish. Most of the more famous Hoysala temples like the Chenna Keshava temple at Belur and the Hoysaleswara temple at Halebidu are built in primarily black and greenish soapstone. But the Veera Narayana temple is built in whitish soapstone. The whitish soapstone is of an inferior quality than the green or black soapstone. The fact that Belavadi temple is built in whitish soapstone, has given it a completely different look. Its hue is pinkish white with a tinge or orange and black at some places.

The [[Veera Narayana Temple, Belavadi, Chikmanguluru, Karnataka|Veera Narayana Temple]] is dedicated to Veera Narayana, a form of Lord Vishnu, in the village of Belavadi, Chikamagalur district, Karnataka. The temple was built in the 12^th century CE by the Hindu dynasty of the Hoysalas, based at Halebidu which was then called Dwarasamudra. They also built the famous temples at Belur and Halebidu. It is a trikuta temple, but with a peculiar and novel plan which separates the two lateral shrines from the original shrine with two mandapams and a lateral open gallery and thus its facade is the most beautiful of all Hoysala temples. It has the largest joint ''mandapam'' of any Hoysala temple with 59 bays. There are 108 pillars in the temple and no two are alike.

 

This temple at Belavadi is built in soapstone like all other Hoysala temples. Soapstone is of three kinds: whitish, greenish and blackish. Most of the more famous Hoysala temples like the Chenna Keshava temple at Belur and the Hoysaleswara temple at Halebidu are built in primarily black and greenish soapstone. But the Veera Narayana temple is built in whitish soapstone. The whitish soapstone is of an inferior quality than the green or black soapstone. The fact that Belavadi temple is built in whitish soapstone, has given it a completely different look. Its hue is pinkish white with a tinge or orange and black at some places.

After weathering of at least 800 years the effects are to be seen. While the sculpture at Belur and Halebidu is almost intact after all these years, the sculpture at Belavadi has deteriorated with time. The images of the three deities, Veera Narayana, Venu Gopala and Yoga Narasimha are built in black soapstone. The priest at Belavadi claims that they are built in Shaligrama.

After weathering of at least 800 years the effects are to be seen. While the sculpture at Belur and Halebidu is almost intact after all these years, the sculpture at Belavadi has deteriorated with time. The images of the three deities, Veera Narayana, Venu Gopala and Yoga Narasimha are built in black soapstone. The priest at Belavadi claims that they are built in Shaligrama.

== References ==

== References ==