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| Hoysala territory, S. India. agranjosh.com |
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| Somnathpur Kesava temple, KA Hoysala pillardreamstime.com |
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| Chennakesava temple Hoysala carved emblem, KA yatrikaone.com |
As for design the temple is built in such a way that allows devotees to access the inner sanctuary / sanctum or garbhagriha where the main deity is enshrined. The devotees enter from outside to the center through ambulatory passageways / Prathakshna path (circumambulation) and halls or chambers (mantapas). As the paths are close to the main deity, they are sacred and sanctified.
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| Sanctum. Hoysaleswara Templei.Halebidu.pinimg.com |
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| pillars Hazara Rama temple of Hampi reamstime.com |
Unlike temples of Tamil Nadu or elsewhere the shrines are independent located on the close or open prakara, in Hoysala temples they are merged into a single unit and are easily approachable.
The entrance to the temple is through a plain covered porch supported by circular lathe turned shinning pillars. Some are further carved with deep fluting and moulded with decorative motifs to enhance the look. .
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| Jagati, Belur temple, KAdreamstime.com |
The "jagati"(a meter tall raised platform from the ground, connecting with other parts) serves as a pradakshna path around the sanctum and normally star shaped design allows the walls to follow contours of the a sort of zig zag pattern; such a provision is not available around the temple.
In temple with no Jagati, the inner mandapa can be entered from the ground level though steps with elephant balustrades (parapets)on either side, Example: the Bucesvara temple in Korvangla, Hassan district, KA
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| Bucesvara temple,KA. Elephant balustrades, wikipedia |
The open mandapa inside is accessed trough a flight of steps on the Jagati (example of this style is the Kesava Temple at Somanathapura)
In temples with two shrines (dvikuta), the vimanas you may find the the shrines either next to each other or on opposite sides. If there are many shrines, each one is in the corner with a common hall. Example: The Lakshmidevi temple at Doddagaddavalli
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| lathe-turned pillars Veeranarayana temple, Belavadi KA wikipedia. |
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| staggered square plan mantapa, Kedareshvara Temple, Balligav,wikipedia |
Above image: Hoysala temple of small size. Karnataka. Note the hanging eaves or stone shade all around the structure and the tall Jornamental Jagati with relief motif and intricate carvings of exceptional beauty.....
The mantapa is a part of the temple where where people gather during prayer time and it has ornate overhead lintel called a makara torana (makara is an imaginary beast and torana is an overhead decoration)
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| Veera Narayana temple, Belavadi outer hall.collectingmoments.in |
Above image: Hoysala temple, Karnataka. note the small lathe-turned circular pillars set on the square platform.....
The open mandapa (characterized by shining lathe-turned pillars; example (Temple at Amruthapura) is actually an outer portion through which the inner small closed mandapa and the sanctum are accessed. It is normally spacious with many bays created by pillars that support the ceiling. Yet another feature is the designated seating areas with stone seats, parapet wall forming the back rest. The staggered-square shape of the open mantapa is a distinct Hoysala feature of the temples, not found in other temples of South India.
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| Fluted pillar, Chenna Kesava temple, Belur |
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| Chenna Kesava temple, Belur. beontheroad.com |
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| Small Hoysala temple, overhanging eaves4.bp.blogspot.com |
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| Ornate ceiling, Belavadi temple, KA i.pinimg.com |
Small temples have closed mantapas with walls raising up to the ceiling. The closed mantapa with decorations inside and out, may have four pillars dividing the hall into nine bays, each having richly decorated ceiling. Commonly such closed mandapa is larger than the vestibule or foyer which may have a tower called sukanasi - a sort of projection upon which rest the Hoysala Emblem normally found at the door way. Examples:Belur and Halebidu. The foyer connects all the shrines through the mandapa.
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| Chennakesava temple Hoysala carved emblem, KA yatrikaone.com |
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| Chenna Kesava temple, nditales.com |
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| Hoysaleswara Templei.Halebidu |
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| Keshava Temple Somnathpur, KA |
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| Hoysaleswara Templei.Halebidu .pinimg.co |
In order to have air circulation and lighting jali or lattice window is set on the outer walls at certain places and it is a typical feature of Hoysala, A closed mandapa is accessible through a porch supported by two small pillars on the parapet walls with decorative features.
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| Madanika bracket at Belur en.wikipedia.org |
The lathe-turned circular pillars of outer and inner halls (mandapas) have four homogenous brackets upon which rest sculptured images of salabhanjikas and madanikas (sculpture of a woman, displaying stylish feminine features). This feature is a common one in Chalukya-Hoysala temples. The ornamented pillars are not homogenous and don't look alike unlike Dravidian temple pillars. In the case of western Chalukya the circular pillars at top are plain but the base is ornamental.
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