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In Vishnu Purana there is a story where Vishnu killed Shakasura. For killing the rakshasa, he used Shankha to fight the rakshasa, Chakra to kill him. It is after killing him that he stood in the Veera Narayana pose, displaying righteous anger and ''dharmic'' justice. The pose exudes righteous chivalry and valour. ''Vyaghra'' means tiger and thus ''Vyaghra hasta'' means tiger hand, someone who is quick and strong like a tiger. ''Veera Mudra'' is a pose in which the deity holds a small weapon in his hand. Unlike other representations of Vishnu, this one shows him in a warlike pose. That is why this form is called Veera Narayana.

In Vishnu Purana there is a story where Vishnu killed Shakasura. For killing the rakshasa, he used Shankha to fight the rakshasa, Chakra to kill him. It is after killing him that he stood in the Veera Narayana pose, displaying righteous anger and ''dharmic'' justice. The pose exudes righteous chivalry and valour. ''Vyaghra'' means tiger and thus ''Vyaghra hasta'' means tiger hand, someone who is quick and strong like a tiger. ''Veera Mudra'' is a pose in which the deity holds a small weapon in his hand. Unlike other representations of Vishnu, this one shows him in a warlike pose. That is why this form is called Veera Narayana.

The ''prabhavali'' that decorates Veera Narayana in the background has a ''makara'' head exuding the ''prabhavali'' which is decorated with the ''Dashavatara'' of Vishnu – Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Balarama, Buddha and Kalki. It shows Balarama instead of Krishna because Veera Narayana himself is identified with Krishna. On either side of Veera Narayana there is Shridevi and Bhudevi, the two consorts of Vishnu. The deity faces east and the leveling of the ground in front of it is marvelous. For 270 feet the ground is extremely leveled. The horizon is visible from the ground, sitting at the gates of the ''garbha-griha''. On 23^rd March, the sunlight comes through the seven doors from the entrance and falls at the feet of the idol, this being another uniqueness of the temple.

The ''prabhavali'' that decorates Veera Narayana in the background has a ''makara'' head exuding the ''prabhavali'' which is decorated with the ''Dashavatara'' of Vishnu – Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Balarama, Buddha and Kalki. It shows Balarama instead of Krishna because Veera Narayana himself is identified with Krishna. On either side of Veera Narayana there is Shridevi and Bhudevi, the two consorts of Vishnu. The deity faces east and the leveling of the ground in front of it is marvelous. For 270 feet the ground is extremely leveled. The horizon is visible from the ground, sitting at the gates of the ''garbha-griha''. On 23^rd March, the sunlight comes through the seven doors from the entrance and falls at the feet of the murti or vigraha, this being another uniqueness of the temple.

=== Venu Gopala ===

=== Venu Gopala ===

=== The Plan ===

=== The Plan ===

[[File:Plan of Veera Narayana Temple, Belavadi.png|thumb|517.988x517.988px|Plan of Veera Narayana Temple, Belavadi]]

[[File:Plan of Veera Narayana Temple, Belavadi.png|thumb|Plan of Veera Narayana Temple, Belavadi]]

The Veera Narayana temple, Belavadi is a ''trikuta'' temple, meaning it has three shrines dedicated to Veera Narayana, Venu-Gopala and Yoga-Narasimha respectively. The temple was built in two steps. First an ''ekakuta'', temple with one ''garbha-griha'' was built. A closed hall and an open hall were attached to it.  

The Veera Narayana temple, Belavadi is a ''trikuta'' temple, meaning it has three shrines dedicated to Veera Narayana, Venu-Gopala and Yoga-Narasimha respectively. The temple was built in two steps. First an ''ekakuta'', temple with one ''garbha-griha'' was built. A closed hall and an open hall were attached to it.  

[[File:Shala 1) North-east shrine 2) South-east Shrine.png|thumb|412.969x412.969px|''Shala 1) North-east shrine 2) South-east Shrine'']]

[[File:Shala 1) North-east shrine 2) South-east Shrine.png|thumb|''Shala 1) North-east shrine 2) South-east Shrine'']]

In a later age, the temple was converted to ''trikuta'', when two lateral shrines were added to it, taking the number of shrines to three. First an exceptionally large ''mandapam'' of staggered square shape was added to the open ''mandapam'' of the earlier shrine and on the two lateral sides of this ''mandapam'', facing north and south, the two shrines were built. Of the three ''vimanas'', the Veera Narayana is the smallest, Venugopal bigger than that and that of Narasimha the highest of all. Although the difference is imperceptible from a distance.

In a later age, the temple was converted to ''trikuta'', when two lateral shrines were added to it, taking the number of shrines to three. First an exceptionally large ''mandapam'' of staggered square shape was added to the open ''mandapam'' of the earlier shrine and on the two lateral sides of this ''mandapam'', facing north and south, the two shrines were built. Of the three ''vimanas'', the Veera Narayana is the smallest, Venugopal bigger than that and that of Narasimha the highest of all. Although the difference is imperceptible from a distance.

After the Hoysala Empire, this temple came under the care of the Vijayanagar kings and after their fall in the 16^th and 17^th centuries, it remained autonomous for some time, but in 18^th century the Wodeyars of Mysore gained control of it and started taking care of it. And in 1760, for better care they donated the temple to the Sringeri Sharada Peetham. No matter who controlled the temple, as long as it remained under the Hindu lordship, the rituals and worship continued in the temple as ever before. In 18^th century, as until very recently, the village of Belavadi was very rich, as its water table was very high and it was rich in resources and manpower. It was quite capable of taking care of itself and the grand temple at the center of the village, but the over lordship of Sringeri Peetham made sure that proper rituals according to the Vaikhanasa Agama always continued there.

After the Hoysala Empire, this temple came under the care of the Vijayanagar kings and after their fall in the 16^th and 17^th centuries, it remained autonomous for some time, but in 18^th century the Wodeyars of Mysore gained control of it and started taking care of it. And in 1760, for better care they donated the temple to the Sringeri Sharada Peetham. No matter who controlled the temple, as long as it remained under the Hindu lordship, the rituals and worship continued in the temple as ever before. In 18^th century, as until very recently, the village of Belavadi was very rich, as its water table was very high and it was rich in resources and manpower. It was quite capable of taking care of itself and the grand temple at the center of the village, but the over lordship of Sringeri Peetham made sure that proper rituals according to the Vaikhanasa Agama always continued there.

The temple is run by three different institutions. One is the Archaeological Survey of India, which takes care of the lawns and the gardens of the temple. A man is appointed by the government organization as it is a heritage temple and the cleaning of the outside premises, the fencing and the lawns are maintained appointed by the ASI. The head priest says that the ASI team is not concerned with the spiritual aspect of the temple. It is only concerned with the aesthetics and architecture and takes care that the temple should look good and clean.

The temple is run by three different institutions. One is the Archaeological Survey of India, which takes care of the lawns and the gardens of the temple. A man is appointed by the government organization as it is a heritage temple and the cleaning of the outside premises, the fencing and the lawns are maintained appointed by the ASI. The head priest says that the ASI team is not concerned with the adhyatmik aspect of the temple. It is only concerned with the aesthetics and architecture and takes care that the temple should look good and clean.

The temple tank of Belavadi tank had gone to ruins even before the ASI took over, but when the ASI renovated the temple in the 1960s, it was decided that the temple tank was not important to renovate and hence it was left in ruins and then filled over.  

The temple tank of Belavadi tank had gone to ruins even before the ASI took over, but when the ASI renovated the temple in the 1960s, it was decided that the temple tank was not important to renovate and hence it was left in ruins and then filled over.  

The Belavadi temple does not have to give its donation to the government as it is not a ''mujarahi'' temple. The Sringeri Matha also does not collect donation from temples like Belavadi which are not cash rich. They understand that temples need funds for running themselves and thus Belavadi temple is free to run on its own. The Shankara Matha Sringeri preserves many such temples across India and Karnataka and runs many Sanskrit schools and any such heritage institutions all over India.

The Belavadi temple does not have to give its donation to the government as it is not a ''mujarahi'' temple. The Sringeri Matha also does not collect donation from temples like Belavadi which are not cash rich. They understand that temples need funds for running themselves and thus Belavadi temple is free to run on its own. The Shankara Matha Sringeri preserves many such temples across India and Karnataka and runs many Sanskrit schools and any such heritage institutions all over India.

In ancient times, kings donated lands for the management and monthly expenditure of the temple. That is why the temple had land aside from what the building occupied. In traditional Agama set-up a priest was completely devoted to the worship of the temple deity and hence he did not have any time for farming and growing his own food. He was a specialist in a society which valued its spiritual needs as much as its physical needs. Those who were landless were given land to farm which originally belonged to the family of the priest. They took half of the produce themselves and gave half of it to the priest so that he could eke a livelihood. It was a win-win situation for both the priest and the farmer who did not have any land but was benefitting from the temple land. It was a wonderful system which was destroyed by the latter day governments.

In ancient times, kings donated lands for the management and monthly expenditure of the temple. That is why the temple had land aside from what the building occupied. In traditional Agama set-up a priest was completely devoted to the worship of the temple deity and hence he did not have any time for farming and growing his own food. He was a specialist in a society which valued its adhyatmik needs as much as its physical needs. Those who were landless were given land to farm which originally belonged to the family of the priest. They took half of the produce themselves and gave half of it to the priest so that he could eke a livelihood. It was a win-win situation for both the priest and the farmer who did not have any land but was benefitting from the temple land. It was a wonderful system which was destroyed by the latter day governments.

== The Priest ==

== The Priest ==

=== Recitation of the ''Vedas'' ===

=== Recitation of the ''Vedas'' ===

Belavadi invites Vedpathi Brahmins (Brahmins expert in the recitation of the ''Vedas'') every year to recite the ''Vedas'' and generally devotees and the priests also do it from time to time. In bigger temples, such Brahmins are permanently kept in service for this purpose. As per Vaikhanasa Agama following the worship rituals, the recitation of the ''Vedas'' is performed as an integral part of its routine.

Belavadi invites Vedpathi Brahmins (Brahmins expert in the recitation of the ''Vedas'') every year to recite the ''Vedas'' and generally devotees and the priests also do it from time to time. In bigger temples, such Brahmins are permanently kept on duty for this purpose. As per Vaikhanasa Agama following the worship rituals, the recitation of the ''Vedas'' is performed as an integral part of its routine.

=== Temple Kitchen ===

=== Temple Kitchen ===

== References ==

== References ==

[[Category:Temples]]

[[Category:Temples]]