Fwd: [Ind-Arch] Nagalapura in Tumkur district, is home to some rich Hoysalan temples

[Guest guest]

---------- Forwarded message ----------YMalaiya <ymalaiyaMon, Apr 27, 2009 at 10:48 PM

[ind-Arch] Nagalapura in Tumkur district, is home to some rich Hoysalan templesindiaarchaeology

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stories etched in stone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The World Heritage Day has just come and gone, but, there is still a lot of apathy when it comes to some of the state's ancient structures. Nagalapura in Tumkur district, is home to some rich Hoysalan temples, but not many know, writes B V Prakash.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the state of Karnataka can boast of a rich sculptural tradition, it is invariably because of the bold temple architecture of the Hoysala period. Apart  from being a powerful lineage of the king who even fought with a tiger symbolising their dynasty, the Hoysala kings and their regional chieftains were instrumental in building a series of highly sculpted temples all over the state each one outclassing the other. However, their style of construction has largely remained similar, all bearing the stamp of Hoysala architecture. Some of these temples are located in quaint towns and villages and heading into oblivion, owing to a lack of publicity.

Nagalapura, a nondescript village about eight kms south of Mayasandra, close to the highway NH48, in Turuvekere taluk of Tumkur

district has two beautiful temples: the Channakeshava temple and the Kedareshwara temple. 

Channakeshava temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Located right in the middle of the town in the middle of large agricultural tracts, this structure is located on a sprawling lawn fenced and under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India. A path and few steps lead from the gate to the entrance of this flat-looking shrine without a tower .This is an ekakuta or a single sanctum, connected by a vestibule to the Navaranga which does not have many carved pillars like other temples. 

However, the ceilings are divided into ankanas which have some elaborate designs carved on them. The entrance also had  a porch  earlier.  The sanctum which once housed the idol of Channakeshava is now having a five-foot image of  Venkateshwara with a consort on each side, typical of Vijayanagar times. The entire structure rests on a three-foot platform. As

is common to Hoysala temples, the craftsmanship of the sculptor is well exhibited on the exterior. The outer walls of the Navaranga which are slowly giving way to gravity have a six-tiered band of friezes. Starting with the bottom row of elephants, the  band of horsemen and a series of scroll work line up one  above the other.

The top row has swans below which is a row of makaras, while the one in the middle is blank apparently intended to depict stories from the epics. Incidentally, the makara is a mythical creature with the features of seven different animals, viz., the legs of lion, body of a pig, mouth of a crocodile, trunk of elephant, cow’s ears, monkey’s eyes and a peacock tail. The friezes, which are similar to the famed Somanathapura temple, extend all around the temple.  Above the friezes  are  numerous images of  gods and goddesses protected by the turrets that run around. The top portion of

the walls have rhythmic  patterns of towers. The walls of sanctum are fairly intact .  Kedareshwara temple The temple of Kedareshwara is situated about a furlong to the north and is located in a tiny enclosure.

Here too, the shrine has a single sanctum without a tower opening into the vestibule which is connected to the navaranga. The temple stands on a Jagati, the  platform that can be reached by a couple of steps. 

In this temple also, the walls of the navaranga have two niches for images. The sanctum has a rather plain ceiling . But the large pedestal  has a tiny conical linga similar to Halebid.  The outside  of the temple walls again have the six friezes and the  rows and carvings are exactly like the Channakeshava temple. The outer wall of the sanctum is a sixteen-cornered  stellate structure with some finely carved images all

around. 

Under ASI’s careBoth the temples are maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India and are  protected monuments.  A watchman is incharge of the temple maintenace and shows around. But he may not throw much light on the details of either the history or the sculpture. Not being well publicised, the temples of Nagalapura are not being visited by many tourists. Providing qualified tourist guides and an information centre will create better awareness of our heritage among people.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Apr212009/spectrum20090420131343.asp

 

 

 

-- Should you find yourself the victim of other people’s bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities, remember things could have been worse – you could be one of them!