Famous Temples in India

Architecture

The Rameshvara temple at Koodli (also spelt "Rameshwara" or "Ramesvara", Koodli is also spelt "Kudli" or "Kudali" and literally means "confluence"). Rameshwara Temple is facing in East direction and constructed in Hoysala style of architecture. This temple consists of four pillared Mukhamandap, Sabhamandap pillars consists of lathe turned and polished. The shrine is an ekakuta construction (single shrine and tower). The material used is Soap stone, a standard in Hoysala constructions. It is built on an east-west axial plan and comprises a sanctum (garbhagriha) which has a vesara style superstructure (Shikhara), and a vestibule (sukanasi) that connects the closed hall (mantapa) to the sanctum. The vestibule also exhibits a tower which from the outside looks like a low protrusion of the main tower over the shrine. Art historian Gerard Foekema calls it the "nose" of the main tower. The entrance to the hall is via three porches at the north, south and east, each of which is supported by four lathe turned polished pillars, a standard feature in Hoysala temples according to art historian Percy Brown.

Inside the temple and facing the sanctum is a platform on which is mounted a sculptured image of Nandi the bull (a companion to the god Shiva). The sanctum houses a linga, the universal symbol of the god Shiva.  The platform on which the temple stands, the jagati, comprises five plain moldings (without friezes). The outer walls of the shrine are plain but for regularly spaced slender pilasters. The tower of the shrine has a finial called the kalasha (decorative water-pot like structure). Below the finial is a heavy dome like structure. This is the largest sculptural piece in the temple with a ground surface area of about 2x2 meters and is called the "helmet" or amalaka. Its shape usually follows that of the shrine (square or star shape). Below the dome the tower comprises three tiers, each descending tier increasing in height. On the protruding tower of the vestibule is the royal Hoysala emblem, a warrior stabbing a lion.