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

Chennakeshava Temple, Somanathpura

Continuing from where we left off in Part I, which can be read HERE

THE RAMAYANA PANELS

The Kapotabandha (frieze) of the temple contains scenes from the Ramayana, Bhagavata purana & Mahabharata. I've tried to decipher some of them. It starts with a scene from the Ramayana. It shows King Dasharatha seated in his royal court

Dasharatha seated in his court
Dasharatha on the advice of rishis performing Putrakameshti yaga for the sake of bearing children

The birth of Shri Rama
Namakarana of the children. Sumitra is seen holding twins Lakshmana & Shatrughna. Next to her is Kaikeyi holding Bharatha followed by Kausalya with Rama on her lap. Dasharatha is seated next to her
Babies are rocked in cradles
Babies learn to crawl
Now a little grown up, the 4 brothers are given martial training
Rama and Lakshmana accompany Rishi Vishwamitra to the forest
Rama kills Tataka rakshashi who would often harass rishis performing yajnas
Rishis resume performing Yajna as Rama and Lakshmana keep watch
Yajna attacked again by Tataka's son Maricha. He is defeated by Rama
Vishvamithra takes Rama & Lakshmana to Janaka's palace in Mithila
Rama lifts & breaks the Pinaka bow of Shiva, followed by Sita garlanding Rama
Panels depicting marriages of Rama with Sita & Lakshmana with Urmila
Newly wed Rama & Lakshmana travelling back to Ayodhya from Mithila in a chariot. They are stopped and challenged by Parashurama
Rama, Sita, Lakshmana & Urmila being welcomed in Ayodhya
Dasharatha and his 4 sons seated in durbar. On the bottom right side of the panel, Mallitama, the sculptor has left his signature in Kannada
This panel depicts the exile of Rama. He along with Lakshmana & Sita are taken away in a chariot by Sumantra
Rama, Lakshmana & Sita enter the forest and are received by the Rishis
Viradha, the rakshasa who tries to attack Sita is killed by Rama
This panel shows Lakshmana chopping off Surpanaki's nose. She is seen standing with her hands folded. In the next scene, Rama fights rakshasa brothers Khara and Dushana

Rama chases and kills Maricha who is in the form of a golden deer
Ravana abducts Sita. Following scene shows Jatayu fighting Ravana
Ravana kills Jatayu in battle. Sugreeva sees Sita's jewels
The Ramayana panel ends here with the meeting of Hanuman with Rama & Lakshmana

THE BHAGAVATA PANELS
The next set of panels depict the events surrounding Krishna's birth & childhood
The Bhagavata purana panels commence with Vishnu resting on Adishesha
This panel shows the durbar of Vishnu & Lakshmi
Devaki-Vasudeva's marriage procession. Kamsa is the charioteer.
Panel depicts Vasudeva exiting Kamsa's prison in Mathura. A prison guard is seen behind a door sleeping on the job. Vasudeva is seen crossing the Yamuna river holding the just born Krishna in his arms
Vasudeva arrives at Gokula. Panels depict him exchanging the new born Krishna with the girl baby (Yogamaya) of Yashoda
Two panels showing Krishna being handed over to Gopi at Gokula & Kamsa dreaming of Krishna's escape from Mathura
News of Krishna's escape being confirmed to Kamsa by prison guards
Panels depicting Krishna being brought up in Gokula, rocked in a swing, fed milk by Yashoda
Panel showing Krishna killing Putana rakshasi
People of Gokula traveling to Nanda's house to meet Krishna
Krishna kicking the cart & thereby killing Sakatasura
Krishna uproots the Arjuna tree, liberating Nalakubara & Manigriva
Krishna kills Bakasura, a rakshasa in form of a crane
Krishna stealing butter
People of Gokula migrating to Vrindavana
Krishna grants Vishvaroopa darshana to cowherds
Krishna plays in the groves on the banks of the Yamuna river
Krishna wrestles with Chanura, Mushtika & other wrestlers
Krishna dancing on Kaliya's hood after subduing him
Balarama kills Dhenukasura, the asura in form of a donkey
Krishna kills Gardabhasura, a donkey shaped asura with the tail of a horse
Krishna kills Aghasura, who assumes the form of a Python
Krishna lifting the Govardhana mountain. Indra is seen praying to him
Indra seen seated on his vahana, Airavata coronates Krishna. Indra gives the name "Govinda" to Krishna on this occasion
Panels depicting Krishna's Rasakrida with Gopis
Krishna kills asura Vyoma
Scenes depicting Krishna's arrival at Mathura
Panel depicting killing of the elephant Kuvalayapida by Krishna
Panels depicting scenes from the wrestling arena. It shows many prominent wrestlers like Chanura, Mushtika, Kuta, Sala ,Tosala & others
Krishna & Balarama wrestle and defeat Kamsa's wrestlers as spectators seated in the gallery watch on
Chanura & Mushtika are killed by Balarama & Krishna
Panels depicting the final battle with Kamsa. The last panel shows Krishna dragging Kamsa by his hair & killing him
Krishna killing Kamsa
The following panels show Krishna proceeding towards the prison where his biological parents Devaki & Vasudeva are held in captivity. He goes on to free them
Krishna reinstates his grandfather Ugrasena as the ruler of Mathura. The Bhagavata panels end here with a depiction of Ugrasena's durbar


THE MAHABHARATHA PANELS
The following panels depict episodes from the Mahabharata. Seen here is Dhritarashtra's durbar
Bhima displaying his immense strength by shaking a tree resulting in the Kauravas falling down from it
Pandavas & Kauravas receive martial training
Pandavas & Kauravas take to battlefield on their chariots
Dhritarashtra intervenes to prevent the war
Elders like Bhishma & Drona advice against war
Pandavas survive the assassination attempt at Lakshagriha. Carving of burning flames can clearly be seen
Pandavas escaping Lakshagriha to the forests via a secret passage
Pandavas in the forest
Hidimbi meets Bhima in Kamyakavana forest. Her brother Hidamba furious with her fights Bhima & is killed in the battle
Hidmbi gives birth to Ghatotkacha who is seen in a cradle suspended from a tree
Pandavas travelling to Ekachakrapura
Bhima carrying a cart full of food for Bakasura. Next panel shows Bhima killing Bakasura
Pandavas arrive at Drupada's kingdom in Panchala where they stay at a potter's house. The potter can be seen working with his wheel in the left
Scenes from Draupadi's swayamvara. Arjuna hits the golden fish eye with his bow & arrow. The fish can also be seen in this panel. Next panel shows Draupadi garlanding Arjuna
Duryodhana, Karna & other Kauravas attack Draupadi & Arjuna. A battle is fought on chariots. They are all defeated by Arjuna
Pandavas return to Hastinapura with Draupadi
A great sabha is held in Hastinapura where the Kauravas on the advice of Shakuni coerce the Pandavas into playing the game of dice
Krishna advises Arjuna to build a new capital by clearing a forest known as Khandava
On the advice of Krishna; Arjuna burns down the Khandava forest
This panel describes the episode of Kiratarjuniya. Arjuna performs a series of penance to obtain the Pashupatastra of Shiva. This weapon would make him nearly invincible. Shiva assumes the form of a Kirata (hunter) to test Arjuna's abilities
Sanjaya narrating the events of Kurukshetra war to Dhritarashtra
Bhima fights & kills Dushasana
War scenes
Karna, seated in yogic posture is appointed as the Senapathi of the Kaurava forces
More war scenes. We can clearly see apart from elephants & horses, camels were used in the Kurukshetra war
The Mahabharata panels conclude with this particular panel showing the victorious Pandavas in a seated posture under a canopy


As seen in the picture, there are 6 layers of carvings around the temple in this order:
1) Elephant
2) Horse
3) Floral
4) Carvings from Bhagavata, Ramayana & Mahabharata
5) Small sculptures of various deities including 24 forms of Vishnu
6) Railing carvings of Prahlada

THE PRAHLADA PANELS
Panels showing Prahlada subjected to torture by soldiers on the instructions of Hiranyakashipu
Elephant let loose on Prahlada in order to stomp him to death
Prahlada set on fire
Prahlada threatened with beheading
Prahlada thrown into the sea . Fish & turtle carvings can be seen
Narasimha fights & slays Hiranyakashipu
Narasimha blesses Prahlada
Garuda
Bali requesting Shukra no to prevent his gift to Vamana
Bali gives daana to Vamana. Next to this panel is a small carving of Vishnu

TEMPLE INTERIOR

Lets have a look at the temple interior. The temple has 3 cells each housing a murthi of Venugopala ,Keshava & Janardhana.
The south garbhagriha houses a murthi of Venugopala. The doorway leading to south sukhanasi has a lintel featuring a carving of Venugopala. Above this is a carving of Lakshminarayana seated in suksana
Lakshminarayana & Venugopala
Jaya
Vijaya
The uttaranga portion of the garbhagriha doorway features a carving of a dancing form of Vishnu
Inside the garbhagriha stands this magnificent murthi of Venugopala. The height of the murthi including the pedestal must be around 7 feet. Here Krishna is represented as being fully ornamented. He stands crossing his legs and leans against a tamala tree
The torana features various carvings including that of these cows, who have lifted their heads up & intently listing to Krishna playing the flute
The torana has carvings of various rishis. Near its edges are carved the 10 avataras of Vishnu
The doorway leading to the west sukanasi has a lintel featuring a carving of a standing image of Keshava. Above this a carving of Gaja Lakshmi
West sukanasi ceiling
West garbhagriha doorway. On the lintel is an image of Lakshminarayana. Above this is an image of Vishnu seated in sukasana
Inside the garbhagriha is this replacement murthi of Keshava. In each of his 4 arms, he holds a Shanka Gada, Chakra & Pushpa. This is actually not the original murthi which was probably destroyed or smuggled away
Dwarapalaka
This is the doorway of the north sukanasi. On its lintel is an image of Janardhana. Above this is an image of Lakshmi-Narasimha
North sukanasi ceiling
The north garbhagriha doorway. It features images of a seated Lakshmi holding akshamala, chakra, shanka & kalasa. Above this is an image of Yoganarayana seated in yogasana posture
The garbagriha houses this brilliant image of Janardhana. Each of his 4 arms holds a chakra, shanka, gada & pushpa. He is flanked on either side by ayudhapurushas. The torana also features the dashavatara
Fluted column from the rangamantapa
Srikara column from the rangamantapa
Sabhamandaraka ceiling from the rangamantapa
Nabhicchanda ceiling from the rangamantapa
This smaller gudi in the rangamantapa originally housed a murthi of Ganesha. A miniature carving of Ganesha can be seen on the Lalatabimba. The ASI has now placed a murthi of Lakshminarayana inside the gudi. The original Ganesha was either destroyed or smuggled away
This gudi once housed a murthi of Mahishasuramardhini. Now its empty

TEMPLE EXTERIOR
East facade
South Vimana
West Vimana
North Vimana
The Vimanas are all built in the plan of a 16 pointed star in the shape of a lotus. On top of the Shikhara is a heavy round kalasa. Some of the carvings seen on the Vimanas are that of simhamukha, kirtimuka, makara, yaksha, gandharva etc
Adisthana & Jangha
North side Adisthana & Jangha
Urdhvajanga
Asanapatta & Kakshasana
Myself at the Temple

I would like to conclude this post by expressing my deepest gratitude to my Mother, who has been a constant source of support and encouragement. She has been instrumental in my journey to decipher these carvings. Her profound knowledge of the Puranas, Itihasa & Shastras not only inspired me, but also guided my understanding, making this endeavour all the more enriching. Thank you all for reading the post.

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