Home > Arts & Culture > Indian Sculpture > Sculpture Of Veeranarayana Temple
Sculpture Of Veeranarayana Temple
Sculpture of Lakshminarayana Temple has been built by following the features of Hoysala style of architecture.

Share this Article:

Sculpture Of Veeranarayana Temple, Belavadi, Hoysala SculptureThe sculpture of Veeranarayana Temple follows the Hoysala temple building idiom. Located in Belavadi the temple is a `trikuta` or three shrined. Trikuta or three shrined temple is a common feature of Hoysala temples. The usual building material chlorite schist or soapstone has been used for the Veeranarayana Temple built by Veera Ballala II. The most striking feature about the architecture of the temple is that two of the shrines face each other. They have a common open mandapa that has 37 bays.

Each of the shrines has a complete tower on its top. These superstructures are known to be the largest examples of Hoysala architecture. The third shrine is quite ancient with both closed and open mandapas. The closed one has 13 bays and the open mandapa has 9 bays. The central shrine is situated at the end of the hall. This shrine has all the architectural elements of the Hoysala temple building.

Sculpture of roof of Veeranarayana Temple, BelavadiAs is the Hoysala feature the inner wall is simply made up. But the roof is ornately decorated. It has 59 bays and the pillars constructed lathe turned. Some others have carvings on them. It is interesting to note that the ones that bear sculptures have been constructed manually. The outer walls of the Hoysala temple have only one eave that runs around the temple that appears where the superstructure meets the wall of the shrine. Decorative miniature towers appear just below this sculpture. The temple panels consist of the sculpted figures of Hindu deities and their attendants. Another sculptural element is the friezes or mouldings on the walls.

The shapes of the two shrines facing each other vary as one shrine is star shaped and the other is square shaped. Even the sukanasi of these shrines are different. There are similarities in these shrines too. All the shrines have well sculptured figures on towers while the wall sculptures are quite bold. Some of the prominent sculptures in this temple are the Kalia daman scene (related to Lord Krishna) and an image of Garuda. Being a Vishnu temple all the three shrines has well sculpted images of the Lord. The central shrine has an image of Narayana (deity with four hands) that rises to a height of 8 feet. It is considered to be one of the finest examples of Hoysala art. The lord is seen standing on a padmasana or lotus seat. The southern shrine has an image of Venugopala and a garuda pedestal while the northern shrine houses Yoganarasimha, sitting in a yoga posture.

The sculpture of Veeranarayana Temple also includes the vimanas that have been profusely decorated with the sculpted demon faces or kirtimukhas.


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in Indian Sculpture


Sculptures in Bhaja & Karle Caves
The caves at Karle and Bhaja illustrate the Buddhist art located in Maharashtra.
Rock sculptures
Champa, an important city during 6th century BC, was the ancient name of Bhagalpur. A number of Rock sculptures have been found here in the course of excavation.
Delhi Sultanate Sculptures
Delhi sultanate Sculptures paved the way for the entry of the Persian architecture in India.
Types of South Indian Temple Sculptures
Types of South Indian Temple Sculpture have the dynamic looks and these temples sculptures are evolved through out the ages in the midst of the rise and fall of many South Indian Empires.
Sculptures of Dashavatara Temple
Sculptures of Dashavatara Temple is evident in every part of the temple which has images of various gods and goddesses.
Gandhara School of Art and Sculpture
Gandhara School of Art and Sculpture was developed during the 1st century AD. Gandhara arts were in a blue-grey mica schist, though sometimes in a green phyllite and stucco, or in terracotta.
Bahmani Architecture
Bahmani architecture has been influenced by Persian style of architecture. The Bahamani kingdom flourished in architectural monuments.
Sculpture of Orissa
Orissa became a substantial centre of sculpture in the 7th century and had remained so throughout the post-Gupta and later Hindu eras.
Features Of Pala Sculpture
Features of Pala Sculpture slowly broke away from the Magadha style in the 10th century.
Indian Temple Sculptures
Indian Temple sculptures exhibits to the world the astonishing pieces of art. The religious places were the seats of learning and developing art in the ancient days.
Indian Bronze Sculptures
Bronze sculptures have been made in India since sixth century in various parts of India. This art had its beginning in Indus Valley Civilization.
Sculpture of Sarnath
Sculptural works of the said places were primarily concentrated in Buddhism, with intricate masonry.
Chalukya Sculptures
Chalukya sculptures evolved a new idiom for the construction of several temples and are renowned for their exquisite architectural marvels.
Pallava Sculptures
Pallava Sculptures for the first time introduced the use of rock in Indian architecture.
Magadha Sculpture
Magadha Sculpture includes the remarkable pieces of art from both Mauryan and Gupta dynasties.
Gupta Sculptures in India
Gupta sculptures exhibit the art works which was prevalent during the Gupta rule. The sculptures of the Gupta period remained as the ideals of art for several generations.
Rashtrakuta Sculptures
Rashtrakuta sculptures and architectures thrived under royal patronage. They are well known for their intricate carvings.
Sculpture at Ellora Caves
Ellora caves were sculpted into the sides of a basaltic rock of the Charanadari hill in Deccan, at Aurangabad.
Badami Chalukya Sculptures
Badami Chalukya sculptures developed during the 5th and 8th centuries and include the various forms of sculptured existent in the Badami Cave Temples, rock-cut temples and numerous other forms of ancient temples.
Hoysala Sculpture
Hoysala sculpture emerged in Karnataka and thrived under the royal patronage. Numerous temples were built in the Hoysala Empire that speaks volumes about the Hoysala sculpture.
Nagara Style of Architecture
Nagara style of Architecture, developed during the 5th century, is an emblem of architectural wonder and is scattered through out various regions of the country.