Belur

Belur

 

Located at some 40 kilometers of the town of Hassan, the small agglomeration of Belur would not attract anybody if it were not there one of the most beautiful temples which is in India of the south, with that of Halebid, located not far from there.

 

One like the other of these two localities were, between the 10 2nd and the 13 2nd centuries, capitals of a prestigious dynasty, Hoysala Convertis with the hindouism to the 12 2nd century, their sovereigns made set up a series of temples to the bold design, making it possible to multiply in an extraordinary way the number of gods and goddesses carved on the walls. The use of a stone dark green, steatite, easy to work, but hardening then fortunately in contact with the air, made it possible to the artists sculptors to reach an unequalled degree in the execution of the details, for example the ornaments and clothing whose the divinities are covered.

Although the temples of Belur and Halebid did not preserve their will shikara origin (but there existed or the temples remained unfinished?), on the contrary other temples Hoysala, they do not remain about it less monuments of an extreme beauty of which each one deserves visiting times.

One penetrates in the enclosure of the large temple of Chennakeshava (Vishnu) by large a gopuram of time Vijayanagar (14 2nd century). Some suggestive erotic sculptures of big size can be seen with height of the first stage.

The temple draws up in the medium of the court on a high base of spangled form like the temple itself. In front of, a beautiful statue of Garuda is, upright in greeting, with the djavastambha behind him. The entry of the temple, in the east, is framed by emblème of Hoysala of the young boy (Salted) facing the lion. Above the door of entry, a great composition represents king Vishnuvardana, founder of the temple. In fact, it will take 103 years to complete this architectural wonder. The door cases of entry represent Kâma and Ratî. Very fine sculptures are placed in console in top of the pillars all around the mandapa. The details of the ornaments, the expressions, of the movements, are returned with an exceptional dexterity. The lower part of the peripheral walls of the mandapa is decorated of a series of planks showing of the elephants, the lions, etc like, in rectangular medallions, scenes of Mahâbhârata

              

It takes one moment to be accustomed to the half-light which reigns in the mandapa and to admire the extraordinary columns, brilliant like lacquer and very of various forms. Some are cylindrical with a multitude of rings, others have 16, 32, even 48 sides. Others still, are carved like jewels. The door of entry of the hall which gives access to the cella is framed of two large Dvârapâla the statue of Vishnu of some 3 meters height, throne in the cella. The lintel of the gate of access to this cella represents Narasimha with beautiful reasons for will makara with flowered tail. The cupola with the ceiling, is also nicely worked. Pendeloque appearing a flower of lotus constitutes the keystone of it.

While arising from the temple by the southern gate, one passes in front of beautiful and large drawn up cobra of brass whose base constitutes a nacelle on which one places the divinities the feastdays where they are walked in the streets. At this place, the boxes of the ceiling are decorated of eight Dikpâla in medallions, but they are not easily recognizable.

Other secondary temples but nevertheless rather great dimensions are also in the same enclosure. In the south, the temple of Chennigaraya. In the west, the temple of Shri Devi to the decorated walls female divinities in an average state of conservation.

In north, a covered gallery shelters some interesting statues: Ganesh Saptamâtrikâ, etc.

Surroundings

Taking into account the proximity of Belur and Halebid, it is as much possible to visit the sites described hereafter starting from Belur than of Halebid

Doddagadavahalli

Located with a score of kilometers of Belur, with the variation of the road leading to Hassan, the curious temple of Mahâ Lakshmî, is at the end of the village of Doddagadavahalli, at the edge of a lake.

One penetrates in the enclosure by a court mandapa with turned columns, whose ceiling shows a low-relief of Shiva Natarâja the principal temple has with the angles of the court, four small sanctuaries which mark the cardinal points.

One notices from the start which the temple is provided with four will shikhara: in fact, inside, four cella are laid out around a central mandapa with beautiful columns. On left the sanctuary of Kâlî is, whose statue equipped with red is kept by two gigantic and alarming Dvârapâla skeletal.

The sanctuary dealing with Kâlî was formerly dedicated to Vishnu. Small Garuda in the cella testifies some, as well as the lintel of the door which shows a small image of Narasimha. But the divinity who chairs here is actually Kâla Bhairav, form terrible of Shiva.

The sanctuary dealing with Kâlî was formerly dedicated to Vishnu. Small Garuda in the cella testifies some, as well as the lintel of the door which shows a small image of Narasimha. But the divinity who chairs here is actually Kâla Bhairav, form terrible of Shiva.

The fourth cella, vis-a-vis that of Shiva, honours Mahâ Lakshmi, guardian divinity of the temple, which bears its name besides.

Outsides of the temple are not remarkable, except the state of conservation of the four will shikhara.

Marle

Marle is a clean and vain village with a dozen kilometers of Belur, with the variation of the road of Chikmagalur. The temple of Hoysala time bearing the name of Chennakeshava, is thus dedicated to this form of Vishnu. The shape of the temple is traditional but the external walls do not carry any statue.

A second temple, smaller, is very at side. It is dedicated to Shiva and a lingam is indeed in the cella. Ganesh keeps the entry of it. The sculptures of the external walls are damaged.

Jyavagal

Located at a dozen kilometers from Halebid and twenty six of Belur, this large village has an interesting temple of Narasimha, of Hoysala time. A series of steps gives access to a door of strengthened enclosure which opens in a small interior court. The walls external of the temple are decorated with less beautiful statues however than those with Halebid, but nevertheless remarkable. Vishnu in various forms is present there: sat on the Ananta snake, in meditation, accompanied by Lakshmî and sat on its Garuda vehicle, etc. One notices a very beautiful representation of Râma and Lakshmana his brother, as well as expressive and jubilatoire dancing Ganesh which seems to smile, carried by his movement. Traces of camphor flaring and offerings clearly show the importance of this statue in the local worships. With the lintel of the door of entry of the temple, one will see a pretty miniature of Vishnu dancing on the Kâliya snake. On both sides of the door, two Dvârapâla low registers are held.

Belavadi

At a distance Located at eleven kilometers of Belur, this village shelters a forgotten temple, also of Hoysala type, which bears the name of temple of Viranarayana. It is in fact a gigantic whole of three temples, coupled the ones with the others and connected by mandapa to the beautiful columns luisantes like lacquer. Each temple preserved its cella, and made notorious, will shikhara them are intact, contrary to Belur and Halebid. It is the principal temple which bears the name of Viranarayana, the two others, smaller are Venugopala and Yoganarasimha. As their name indicates it, they are respectively dedicated to Vishnu, Krishna and Narasimha, i.e. the three shapes of the same god.

The walls external of the temples carry sculptures of divinities whose faces are unfortunately damaged.

Two mandapa separate precede this unit

Arsikere

Accessible by a picturesque road to about fifty kilometers in north from Halebid, this significant village has a temple of Shivalaya rather difficult to find. From Hoysala time, it is especially remarkable by an astonishing hemispherical cupola surmounting beautiful a mandapa spangled open, with 21 pretty columns. At the interior of the mandapa, one will notice the splendid cupola with pendeloque power station, surrounded by a series of other pendeloques the smaller, laid out concentrically.

Another specificity is Nandi which is in top of will shikhara

At the interior of the temple, in the cella, the divinity is represented by Shiva Lingam. In an angle of the hall, draws up a statue of the Chamunda goddess, with the expressive face.