Famous Temples in India

Architecture

SRI CHANNAKESHAVA TEMPLE : Chennakeshava in Kannada means "handsome Keshava" Lord Vishnu is also known as Keshava. This temple was facing in East direction and constructed in Vijayanagara style of architecture. The sanctum which is connected to a closed hall by a square vestibule (sukhanasi). The entrance into the hall from the outside is through a porch (mukhamantapa). Typically, a closed hall in a Hoysala temple has no windows. The porch consists of a awning supported by two decorative half pillars with two parapets on both sides. The vestibule has its own tower (also called sukhanasi), the ceiling of the closed hall is supported by four lathe turned pillars and these pillars divide the ceiling into nine highly decorated bays. Between full pilasters the outer walls of the hall and shrine are decorated with turrets and miniature towers on half-pilasters (aedicula). Below these, forming the base of the temple are the five horizontal moldings. Somanna is believed to have donated this temple to a scholar called Kote Shankaradeva in memory of his parents. A closer look reveals several 13th and 16th century inscriptions on the walls and on the stone beams of the mukhamantapa of Vishnu Temple. The stone inscriptions dating back to 1263 and 1267 A.D. present on the stone beams of the mukhamantapa of Vishnu temple clearly record minutes of some of the monthly meetings held during which decisions on land grants and other such matters were deliberated and settled.

SRI GANGADHARESHWARA TEMPLE : Gangadhareshwara Temple was facing in North direction. One of the stone inscriptions in the temple complex records the names of Jakana, Eshwara and Saroja, believed to be the temple’s sculptors. According to the art historian Adam Hardy, the temple plan is a Bhumija Nagara style (north Indian) on a semi-stellate base (called mula-prasada). The building material is the standard Soap stone and the hall (mantapa) is a closed one. The temple has all the basic elements of a standard Hoysala temple and comprises a sanctum (garbhagriha) which is connected to a closed hall by a square vestibule (sukhanasi). The entrance into the hall from the outside is through a porch (mukhamantapa). Typically, a closed hall in a Hoysala temple has no windows. The porch consists of an awning supported by two decorative half pillars with two parapets on both sides. The shrine has a tower (shikhara). The vestibule has its own tower (also called sukhanasi) which appears like a low extension of the main tower over the shrine. For its appearance, art critic Gerard Foekema calls it the "nose" of the main tower. From the outside, the walls of the vestibule are inconspicuous and appear like a short extension of the shrine wall. The ceiling of the closed hall is supported by four lathe turned pillars. This is a norm in all Hoysala temples. These pillars divide the ceiling into nine highly decorated bays. The porch with its half pillars also serves the purpose of an open hall with a single bay ceiling. The outer wall of the hall and shrine are articulated with full pilasters. Between full pilasters, turrets and miniature towers on half-pilasters (aedicula) provide a decorative look. Below these, forming the base of the temple, are the six horizontal moldings.

SRI MOOLE SHANKARA TEMPLE : This temple was facing in East direction, constructed in Nagara architectural style with the basic skeleton of a Hoysala structure. The term "Moole" in Kannada means corner so some believe that since the temple is tucked in a corner of the town it got the name. Another theory is that the term "Moola" which means origin, might have been turned to "Moole" over the years.

SRI LAKSHMI BETERAYA TEMPLE : This temple was facing in East direction, constructed in Vijayanagarstyle of architecture.