 Chennakesava temple was originally called Vijayanarayana Temple. Chennakesava means "handsome Kesava" and is a form of Lord Vishnu. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple was accredited by King Hoysala Vishnuvardhana in 1117 CE. The main entrance to the complex is crowned by a Rayagopura that was built during the rule of Vijayanagar Empire. The pillar facing the main temple, the Garuda sthambha was built in the Vijayanagar period while the pillar on the right, the Deepa sthambha is a contribution of Hoysala period. There ate three entrances and the doorways have decorated sculptures of doorkeepers on either side.
Architecture of Chennakesava temple Chennakesava temple is made of soapstone. The plan is fundamentally a simple Hoysala plan that has been built with amazing detail. The basic part of the temple is unusually large in size. The temple is a single shrine design. A large entrance hall connects the shrine to the hall. There are 60 bays of the mandapa. The tower on top of the vimana has dilapidated over time. The temple is built on a platform. There is one getaway of steps that leads to the platform and another set of steps that leads of the mandapa. The platform helps the devotee to do a pradakshina around the temple before entering it. The jagati is constructed in a staggered square design and the shrine is star shaped. Initially it was an open mandapa, however later it was transformed into a closed one that was done by erecting walls with pierced window screens. There are 28 such windows which have star-shaped perforations and bands of foliage, figures and mythological subjects. On one of the screens King Vishnuvardhana and his queen Shanatala Devi are depicted. Another screen depicts the king in a standing posture. 
The shrine is at the back of the mandapa. Each side of the vimana has five vertical sections that comprise a large double storied niche in the centre and two heavy pillars on either side. These are rotated about their vertical axis in order to produce a star-shaped plan for the shrine. These bear many ornate sculptures that re of earlier style.
Vimana's shape indicates that the tower above it would have been of the Bhumija style. The Bhumija towers are a type of nagara tower which are curvilinear in shape. This shape is uncommon in pure Dravidian architecture.
Sculpture of Chennakesava temple There are several pillars which have been decorated with intricate sculptures. Narasimha pillar is the most popular amongst them. All the 48 pillars are unique; however the four central pillars and the ceiling they support are noteworthy. There is a possibility that these pillars have been hand chiselled while the others were lathe turned. These pillars bear madanikas (Salabhanjika-celestial damsels). They have been depicted various forms. Some of them are popular like "The lady with the parrot", "The huntress" and Bhasma mohini. Other sculptures include Sthamba buttalika which are made in the Chola style. At the base of the outer walls are frescos of charging elephants. Above the horses are panels with floral designs, above which sculptures depict figures from the epics, the Ramayanaand the Mahabharata. The doorways that lead to the mandapa have on both sides an image of "Sala slaying a tiger". Sala is popularly known as the founder of the Hoysala Empire. Other sculptures here are the Narasimha image in the south western corner, Shiva-Gajasura, "Gajacharmambaradhari" on the western side, the winged Garuda, a consort of God Vishnu standing facing the temple, dancing Kali, a seated Ganeshaands several others. The sculptural style bears similarities with wall sculptures in temples of northern Karnataka and adjacent Maharashtra. (Last Updated on : 02-03-2015) |
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Chennakesava Temple, Belur, Karnataka
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