The History, Architecture and Sculpture of the Hoysala built Chennakeshava Temple at Somanathapura (PART I)

Chennakeshava Temple, Somanathapura, Karnataka

A detailed post on the history, architecture & sculpture of the Hoysala built Chennakeshava Temple at Somanathapura, Karnataka. This is going to be a long one & it took me a while to piece all the information together. Do continue reading till the end. Lets's begin.

The Keshava temple was constructed by Somanatha Dandanayaka on receiving funds from reigning King Narasimha III. This temple was consecrated in 1238 CE & is considered the last major temple building activity undertaken by the Hoysalas.

Inscription issued by Hoysala king Narasimha III

Inscription

In front of the entrance of the temple is a 10mt high Dipasthambha. The Temple is enclosed in a prakara wall & is entered through a mantapa on the east. To the left of this mantapa is a 3mt high slab with inscription in both Kannada & Sanskrit dating to the reign of Narasimha.

The 1st inscription has 91 lines & is in old Kannada script in both Kannada & Sanskrit. It registers a gift of 3000 pieces of gold by king Narasimha for the worship of Keshava. The next 3 inscriptions are all in Kannada & relates to land grants, temple revenue etc

Architectural Elements of a Hoysala Temple

The Keshava temple is regarded as one of the most perfectly designed Trikutachala (triple celled) temple. The main temple stands on a Jagati (Platform) and follows a stellate (star shaped) floor plan. I have labelled the different architectural elements of the temple

 1) Jagati (Base)

Jagati

The Jagati at around 3 ft in height serves as the Pradishhana patha. As one walks in a clockwise manner, we can pictorially read stories from Ramayana, Mahabharata & Bhagavata Purana. We will look at these carvings in detail later

2) Adhisthana (Plinth)

Adhisthana

Here we can see 6 tiered frieze(Kapota-bandha) beginning from the lowest, a row of elephants. Then cavalry with horsemen. Followed by foliated creepers. This followed by scenes from Purana-Itihasa. Followed by friezes of Makara & Hamsa

3) Bhitti (Wall)

Bhitti

 The wall portion of temple is known as Bhitti. The Bhitti has sculptures of Devatas, Gandharvas, Rishis etc. There are nearly 200 sculptures on the Bhitti, all of which will be thoroughly examined in this post. It includes Chaturvimsati Vishnu(24 forms of Vishnu)

4) Kakshasana 

Kakshasana

The last course of the Adhistana support the Kakshasana of the porch balcony seating. The sloping external surface of the Kakshasana is decorated with stories from the Puranas including that of Bhakta Prahalada. We'll explore these carvings later

5) Jalandhrakas (Windows)

Jalandhrakas

Jalandhrakas

Above the Kakshasana, decorative stone screens (jalandhrakas) enclose the mantapa inside which allow diffused light into the inner spaces. The decorative patterns were added during the time of Veera Ballala III. There are 20 such windows in total.

6) Chadya

Chadya

The Chadya that runs along the entire Temple acts as a separation layer between the Bhitti & the main Shikhara. The Chadya features numerous miniature Shikharas positioned just above the Bhitti sculptures.

7) Shikhara

Shikara

Shikara

Each of the 3 Shikharas of the temple is elaborately but very similarly designed. Each is built in the plan of a 16 pointed star. There are carvings of Simhamukhas, Kirtimukhas, Makaras, Yakshas, Gandharavas.

Wall Sculptures

Now lets have a look at the exquisite wall sculptures. There are around 200 murthis. We'll attempt to identify them all. Some of the sculptures also bear names of the Sthapatis who sculpted them. Some them include Mallitamma, Chaudiah, Baliah, Masanitamma, Lohita, Elemasiah..

1) Vaikuntanarayana

Vishnu is seated at ease on the coils of Ananta whose 7 hoods are seen above. Vishnu holds Shanka & Chakra & has a hand resting on the seat & the other hand loosely placed on the knee. Devatas & rishis pay obeisance to him

2) Tandava Ganapathi

Ganesha dancing. He is seen holding an ankusha, svargahasta, padma, apuupa bowl. There is a Apsara playing the Dhavane (percussion) on his left

3) Nritya Sharadha/Saraswati

She is seen holding in her 8 hands the Veena, lambahasta, ankusha, akshamala, svargahasta(broken), pustaka. She is accompanied by percussionists. The sculptor who created this masterpiece has left his signature below & is identified as Nanjiah.

4) Janardhana

This is one of the 24 forms of Vishnu. He holds an Akshamala, Chakra,Shanka & a Phala. Also seen to the right is Lakshmi

5) Keshava

Yet another one of the 24 forms of Vishnu. He has 6 hands, holding a gada, padma, shanka, chakra, paasa, dhana. Lakshmi is seen to the left

6) Keshava

He holds Phala instead of gada. But its broken. Lakshmi is seen to the right. Baliah has been identified as the sculptor of this image

7) Venugopala

Gada, chakra, shanka & padma are held by Venugopala. The flute is partially damaged. Gopikas can be seen dancing. Cows are also seen. Near his feet a serpent is also seen. Chamaiah is identified as the sculptor of this murthi

8) Krishna

One of the 24 forms of Vishnu. Seen holding Shanka, gada, padma, chakra

9) Indra

He is standing in samabhanga & has 4 objects bearing in each hand. Shanka & Chhakra in the upper hand. Vajra & Danda in his lower hands

10) Rama

Vishnu as Rama with 6 hands, holding arrow, chakra, padma, shanka, gada & a patra. The maker of this image is identified as Bomma

11) Prasanna Raghava

Vishnu with 6 hands. Seen holding Abhaya mudra, shanka, arrow, bow, padma & dhanus

12) Varuna

Vasudeva as Varuna with 6 hands each holding padma, chakra, ankusha, paasa, shanka, phala. The pitha below has the inscription "Sa ni raa ra"

13) Yoganarayana/Badrinarayana

He is seated in Padmasana, his back hands holding Shanka & chakra. Front hands are in yogamudra

14) Nritya Lakshmi

Seen on either sides of the dancing Lakshmi are Gandharavas playing the Dhavane (percussion). She has 6 hands. Each holding phala, chakra, svargahasta, shanka, lambahasta, padma. The maker of this murthi has been identified as Mallitamma

15) Sankarshana

Sankarshana is identified most commonly with Balarama. He is also called Halayudha as he wields the plough as seen in this picture. He has 6 hands in each of which he holds chakra, spear, plough, paasa, shanka & shield. The sculptor of this image is Baliah

16) Shridhara

Wields chakra, gada, shanka & padma in each one of the 4 hands. Related to 24 forms of Vishnu. Sculptor of this murthi is Mallitamma

17) Brahma

The 4 faced, 4 armed Brahma is standing in Samabhanga. He holds akshamala, shruksruva (spoon) with boar face in his right hands and pasha (noose), kaladanda (staff of death) and kalasha (pot) in his left hands. He is flanked by chamaradharinis (chauri bearers)

18) Vishnu

Standing with abhaya, chakra, shanka, dana

19) Dhanavantri

Seated in padmasana holding Kalasha & Apupa

20) Brahmani

She is seen standing with 4 hands, each holding padma, ankusha, pasha, kalasha

21) Matsya avatara of Vishnu

Vishnu with the face of a fish standing with 6 hands out of which one is broken. The rest hold Shanka, padma, gada, chakra & maala

22) Varaha

Vishnu with the face of a boar. Has 6 hands, each holding chatri (umbrella), chakra, shanka, padma & phala (broken)

23) Kurma

Vishnu with the face of a tortoise. Highly damaged. Back hands hold chakra & shanka. Front hands hold what is believed to be the Mandara parvata

24) Parijata-apaharana

Indra & Sachi seated on the Airavata elephant defending against Krishna & Satyabhama (next image) in order to prevent the latter from carrying away the Parijata tree

25) Garuda, Krishna & Sathyabhama

Krishna & Satyabhama riding on the shoulders of Garuda carrying away the Parijata tree

26) Lakshmi Narasimha

Narasimha seated in sukhasana with Lakshmi sitting on his lap. Prahalada is also seen to his right with folded hands

27) Vishnu

Difficult to identify which form of Vishnu this is as all the arms are broken. The stapathi who made this is Vitthala

28) Vishnu

Standing with one hand in Daana. The other 3 are broken. Lohita is the sculptor of this image

29) Nritya Sharadha

Saraswathi with 6 arms in dancing posture. Each holding Veena, ankusha, akshamala, pustaka, paasha. Sculptor has been identified as Talamasayya

30) Janardhana 

Lower right hand broken, Chakra, Shanka & Varadamudra

31) Vishnu

3 arms broken, one holding Shanka. Difficult to tell which form

32) Vishnu

Only a bow can be partially identified. Difficult to tell which form

33) Harihara

6 armed Harihara. Trishula & Padma partially visible. Rest all broken

34) Vishnu 

Only padma visible. 3 hands broken

35) Vishnu

Only Shanka visible. 3 hands broken

36) Vishnu

Chakra & Musala visible. 2 arms broken

37) Trivikrama

4 armed Trivikrama. each seen holding Abhayamudra, musala, chakra & shanka

38) Parashurama

Seen in each of the 4 arms are padma, parashu, chakra & musala

39) Halayudha

Vishnu holding chakra, hala (plough), musala & daana

40) Sankarshana

Holding padma, hala, musala. Another object is not identifiable

41) Vishnu

3 arms seen. 1 broken. rest 3 hold chinmudra, shanka & musala

42) Harihara

8 armed. 4 broken. Rest hold sarpa, shanka, ankusha & varadamudra

43) Vishnu

Back hands holding chakra & shanka, front arms in anjali mudra

44) Vishnu

4 armed. One damaged. Each holding musala, shanka, chakra

45) Vishnu

Heavily damaged. Padma & gada are partially visible

46) Vishnu

4 armed. All damaged

47) Madhava

4 armed. Each holding musala, chakra, shanka & padma. An inscription in nagari script can be seen on the pedestal

48) Vishnu

4 armed. Each holding Abhaya, chakra, shanka & varadamudra

49) Dattatreya

8 handed. 5 of which hold musala, padma ,dhanus, shanka & pustaka

50) Brahma

Depicted without a beard. 4 armed. Each holding an akshamala, sruk, sruva (spoon). 4th arm is broken

51) Venkateshwara

4 armed. back hands broken. Front right arm in Abhayamudra & the left resting on the hip.

52) Vishnu

4 armed. Each holding spear, chakra, shanka & musala

53) Madhava

4 armed. Each holding phala, chakra, shanka, padma

54) Yama

4 armed. Each holding a Pasha (noose), chakra, shanka, vardhamudra. The sculptor of this image has been identified as Maarana.

55) Madhava

4 armed. Each holding a javelin, chakra, shanka & padma.

56) Vishnu

4 armed. Back arms broken. Front hands in Anjali

57) Vishnu

4 armed. Only Shanka visible

58) Harihara

8 armed. Only Gada visible

59) Vishnu

4 armed. Each holding chinmudra, chakra, shanka & paasa

60) Vishnu

A rare form of Vishnu in dancing pose. He holds a Veena in with front arms. Chakra & Shanka with back arms

61) Vishnu

Again in dancing pose with 8 hands, of which 3 are broken. Rest hold an akshamala, shanka, kalasha, lambahasta & 1 hand has 2 fingers raised.

62) Vishnu

4 armed. 3 arms broken. Only padma visible

63) Manmatha

Manmatha stands under a tree in tribhanga posture. He holds in his right hand a bunch of flower arrows & ikshu (sugarcane) bow in the left hand. At the bottom of his left side is Vasanta (personified) bearing a quiver of arrows. The sculptor is Masanitamma.

64) Vishnu

all arms broken.

65) Lakshminarayana 

Seated in Sukhasana with Garuda to the left (broken) and elephant near Lakshmi's feet. The sculptor of this image is Masanitamma

66) Lakshmi

Seated with 4 hands each holding padma, chakra, shanka and phala

67) Janardhana

4 handed each holding abhayamudra, chakra, shanka & gada. Sculpted by Mallitamma

68) Vishnu

6 armed. Paasha, gada, shanka, and chakra visible

69) Vishnu

6 armed. Musala, 2nd right hand broken, shanka, chakra, shakti weapon & padma visible

70) Vasudeva

6 armed. Each holding Akshamala, gada, shanka, chakra, padma & phala

71) Sankarshana

6 armed. Each holding padma, gada, hala, pasa, chakra & shanka

72) Parashurama

6 armed. Each holding shanka, gada, paasa, parashu, padma & chakra. The sculptor of this image is Chamiah

73) Janardhana

Upper arms holding Chakra & Shanka. Lower arms holding Pushpa & Gada

74) Hari

Vishnu wielding Gada, Shanka, Chakra (damaged), Pushpa

75) Suryanarayana

Surya stands in samabhanga under lata-torana over a padma-pitha. His upper hands carry Shvetapadma & lower hands are in Abhaya & Varada mudras. On either side are Usha & Pratusha shooting arrows of dawn & dusk. The sculptor is Chaudiah

76) Madhava

6 hands. Each holding abhaya mudra, gada, chakra, shanka, padma & daana mudra

77) Damodhara

4 armed. Each holding Chakra (damaged), shanka, gada, padma

78) Trivikrama

4 armed. Each holding Pushpa, Gada, Chakra & Shanka

79) Narayana

4 armed. Shanka, padma, gada, chakra are seen

80) Janardhana

6 armed. Each holding abhaya mudra, padma, chakra, shanka & phala

81) Madhava

6 armed. Abhaya, gada, chakra, shanka, padma & daana mudra seen

82) Vishnu

2 arms broken. Other 2 holding chakra & shanka

83) Vishnu

4 armed. Chakra, shanka & pustaka are seen

84) Nritya Lakshmi

8 armed. Abhaya, phala, chakra & dana mudra visible. Rest are broken

85) Vishnu

6 armed. Chindmudra, padma, ankusha, daanamudra, two arms broken) Mallitama is the sculptor

86) Kalki

4 armed. Khadga (sword), chakra, shanka, kavacha (shield). Mallitama is the sculptor

87) Mahishasuramardhini Durga

8 armed. Devi's left hand crushing mashisura's head. Sculpted by Mallitama

88) Vishnu

4 armed. Each holding Bana (arrow), paasha, chakra & shanka. Sculpted by Mallitama

89) Devi

A 8 armed Devi in dancing posture. 6 arms damaged. 2 front arms holding Abhaya & Varadha mudra. Gandharvas playing mridanga & davane on either side. Sculptor is Mallitama

PART II of this post can be read HERE