Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Nuggehalli

The Lakshmi Narasimha temple is located in Nuggehalli (also spelt Nuggihalli), a town in Hassan district of Karnataka, India. Nuggehalli is located on the Tiptur-Channarayanapatna state highway. It is about 50 km from Hassan city. It is connected by road with Bangalore, the state capital. Nuggehalli is home to two beautiful Hoysala temples, the Lakshminarasimha temple built in 1246 CE and the Sadasiva temple built in 1249 CE by Bommanna Dandanayaka, a commander in the Hoysala Empire during he rule of King Vira Someshwara. The town was called Vijaya Somanathapura in ancient times and was founded as an "agrahara" (place of learning) by Bommanna Dandanayaka. Prior to coming under the control of the Hoysalas, the area was ruled by the Chola dynasty who had built a Jayagondeshwara temple. The temple later was also patronised by King Vishnuvardhana in 1121 CE.

Lakshmi Narasimha Temple

This is a good example of a richly decorated Hoysala temple built in the "trikuta" (three towers) "vimana" (prayer hall) style with fine sculptures adorning the walls.Most Hoysala temples are either ekakuta (one tower), dvikuta (two towers) or trikuta, "A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples", Gerard Foekema, pp 25] The material used is Chloritic Schist (Soapstone)The Western Chalukya carvings were done on green schist (Soapstone). This technique was adopted by the Hoysalas too, Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent, Takeo Kamiya] and the temple is built on a "jagati" (platform) that closely follows the plan of the temple.This is a Hoysala innovation, cite web|title=History of Karnataka-Religion, Literature, Art and Architecture in Hoysala Empire|url=http://www.ourkarnataka.com/history.htm|author=Arthikaje, Mangalore|publisher=© 1998-00 OurKarnataka.Com, Inc|work=|accessdate=2006-11-28, The Jagati is in perfect unity with the rest of the temple according to Gerard Foekema, "A Complete Guide To Hoysala Temples", pp 25] The size of the original temple can be considered small, to which a larger open "mantapa"(hall) was later added. The three shrines are located around a central closed "mantapa" with 9 bays.A bay is a square or rectangular compartment in the hall, Gerard Foekema, A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples pp 52, pp 93] The ceiling of the closed "mantapa" is supported by four lathe turned pillars and is deeply domed in the center.This is a common feature of Western Chalukya-Hoysala temples, A Concise History of Karnataka, pp 117, Dr. S.U. Kamath] The central shrine is the most prominent and has a large tower. This shrine has a vestibule that connects the shrine to the "mandapa". Consequently, the vestibule also has a tower that looks like an extension of the main tower and is called the "sukanasi" or nose.It is on the "sukanasi" that the Hoysala emblem is placed, Gerard Foekema, "A Complete Guide to Hoysala" Temples pp 22] The other two shrines have smaller towers and because they have no vestibule to connect them to the central "mantapa", they have no "sukanasi". From outside, the temple actually looks like a "ekakuta" (single shrine) temple because the two lateral shrines are simply extensions of the wall of the "mantapa". Their towers are a later addition. This is a classic example of a "trikuta" that looks like a "ekakuta".Often in Hoysala temples, only the central shrine of three shrines has a tower. So the term "trikuta" may not literally by true, Gerard Foekema, "A Complete Guide to Hoysala" Temples pp 24] A large open hall with tall pillars with "faces" was added during later times making the original porch and closed "mantapa" look like the inner portion of the temple. The central shrine has five projections per side and the tower is complete though without the "kalasa".water pot like stone structure on top of the tower. This is often lost over the centuries and normally seen replaced by a metallic pinnacle, Gerard Foekema, A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples, pp 27] Since the shrine is square in plan, the topping roof (helmet like sculptured stone) follows the same plan. There are three tiers of decorative smaller roofs bearing their own "kalasa" that form the body of the tower. The superstructure on top of the vestibule forming the nose also has two tiers of decorative roofs. This is why the "sukanasi" looks like an extension of the main tower. The two lateral shrines also have five projections per side. The top of these shrines and the wall of the "mantapa" are crowned with a row of decorated roofs just like the main shrine.

The temple is of a later Hoysala style and below the superstructure of the "vimana" run "eaves" all round the temple.An eaves is a projecting roof, overhanging the wall, Gerard Foekema, "A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples" pp 93] It projects about half a meter from the wall. There is a second eaves running about a meter below the upper eaves with decorative towers placed between them. The wall images of Gods and Goddesses are below the lower eaves and there are 120 such sculptured panels in all below which are six different mouldings of equal size. This broadly is called horizontal treatment."A Concise History of Karnataka", pp 134, Dr. S.U.Kamath] The six mouldings of the base is divided into two sections. Going from the very base of the wall, the first horizontal layer contains procession of elephants, above which are a horsemen and then a band of foliage. The second horizontal section has depictions from the Hindu epics and "puranic" scenes executed with detail. Above this are two friezes of "yalis" (or "makara", an imaginary beast) and "hamsas" (swans). The "vimana" tower is divided into three horizontal sections and is even more ornate than the walls. Art critic Percy Brown calls this one of the distinguishing features of Hoysala art, "A Concise history of Karnataka", pp 134, Dr S.U. Kamath]

The icons in the panels are mostly Vaishnava and they are attributed to two well known Hoysala sculptors, Baichoja and Mallitamma.cite web|title=A haven for architecture lovers |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr262005/spectrum1859142005424.asp|author=M S Dwarakinath|publisher=Decan Herald|work=Spectrum, Deccan Herald, Tuesday, April 26, 2005|accessdate=2006-11-28, Gerard Foekema, "A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples" pp 85] There are few icons of Shiva in the form of Bhairava and Bhairavi also. Baichoja's sculptures are on the south side of the temple and have a certain peace and dignity about them. Mallitamma's sculptures are on the north side and while they are not as fine, they are lively and have greater variety. Gerard Foekema, "A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples", pp 85] The three shrines contain the images of Venugopala, Keshava and Lakshminarasimha, all forms of Vishnu.

adasiva temple

This is an unusual Hoysala temple built in the "ekakuta" architecture with "nagara" styled tower. The walls of the shrine and the mantapa are severe looking as there is no sculptural decoration. Yet this temple is considered important from the architecture point of view. The temple is built on a "jagati" and Soapstone is the material used.

Notes

References

* Dr. Suryanath U. Kamath (2001). A Concise History of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter books, MCC, Bangalore (Reprinted 2002).
* Gerard Foekema, A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples, Abhinav, 1996 ISBN 81-7017-345-0
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External links

* [http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr262005/spectrum1859142005424.asp Nuggehalli, A haven for architecture lovers]