The Impressive Temples of Cheluvanarayanaswamy & Yoga Narasimhaswamy at Melukote

Shree Cheluvanarayanaswamy Temple 

A detailed walk-through of the majestic Cheluvanarayanaswamy temple. The temple is adorned with a number of exquisite pillars whose carvings leave one spellbound.

Mantapam

Shee Yoga Narasimhaswamy Temple

View of Melukote town from Yadagiri hill



This is the entrance to the Cheluvanarayana Swamy temple. The main temple itself dates back to the pre-Hoysala era & enjoyed the patronage of later rulers of Vijayanagara empire & the Mysore Wadiyars. Shri Ramanujacharya spend a significant amount of time here.

Entrance Gopuram



The Gopuram is in the typical Hoysala/Vijayanagara style, featuring the Kirtimukha at the very top & Sala fighting the lion. The Sala-lion fight was the royal emblem of the Hoysalas, who were Vaishnavites

Kirtimukha
                 



This is the south exit of the Cheluvanarayana Swamy sannidhi. Along the walls are carved the Daśāvatāras of Maha Vishnu. As you can see , the sculptures are a victim of islamic iconoclasm. We'll come to this later.

Cheluvanarayana Swamy sannidhi

Dashavatara carvings

Dashavatara carvings



As you circumambulate around the inner prakaram of the temple you find many a pillars with magnificent & intricate carvings. Among the very first is this of Ugra Narasimha ripping open Hiranyakashipu. Below that, a carving of a calmer Yoga Narasimha.

Ugra Narasimha

Yoga narasimha



A pillar with Gopikas dancing while Lord Krishna plays the Flute.

Venugopala

Gopikas



Lord Vishnu reclining on the Adi Shesha depicted on one of the pillars

Maha Vishnu





The below carvings is known as Srivatsa. It is considered to be the symbol of Karma. It is essentially an endless knot. This symbol is found on the chest of Maha Vishnu & in many Vaishnava temples. It represents the interweaving of change and time.The unendingknot represents fullness & prosperity.

Srivatsa carving



Even though its a Vaishnava temple, one gets to see a significant number of carvings of Lord Shiva as well.
Maha Nata Shiva



A carving of Shri Ramanujacharya blessing his disciple.
Shri Ramanujacharya



An optical illusion carving of that of an Elephant & a Bull. This was a very common practice in most South Indian temples.

Optical illusion carving



Another carving of what looks to be an extremely complex form of Aśvaḥ

Ashva



The consort of Cheluvanarayana Swamy is known as Devi Yadugiri Nachiyar. The dwarapalaka outside the goddess' sannidhi. Sculpture is in typical Hoysala style.

Dwarapalaka



On the right side just above the Dwarapalaka we find one more carving of Lord Shiva, this time depicted as Gajasurasamhara. Lord Shiva slays the Rakshasa Gajasura, who takes the form of an elephant & torments Rishis of Varanasi. Lord Shiva rips him open from inside

Gajasurasamhara Shiva



Lord Shiva is again depicted above the other dwarapalaka too, this time has Maha-Nata popularly known as Thandaveshwara, with Apasmara beneath him. 

Maha-Nata Shiva



Now the most stunning pillar of all at the Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple is this extremely ornate & exquisite pillar. It features this octagonal shaped ring. There are vertical joints that hold it place. No part of the ring itself, touches the pillar.

Octagonal ring pillar

Octagonal ring

Octagonal ring



This special pillar depicts various scenes from the Ramayana. Seen here are Rama, Sita & Lakshmana. Below are Rama & Lakshmana in the battlefield at Lanka.

Carvings from Ramayana yuddha



Carving on the same pillar of what appears to be Sugreeva, Angada & Lord Hanuman.

Sugreeva, Angada & Hanuman



The other face of the pillar features more carvings from the Ramayana. Seen here Rama & Sita. The octagonal ring is also visible.

Rama & Sita




On the same pillar, a scene depicting the slaying of Ravana. Above it is carvings of what appears to be Vibishana, Sita, Rama & Lakshmana post war.

Vibishana, Sita, Rama & Lakshmana



From the same pillar, carving of the great devotee Shabari offering fruits to Rama & Lakshmana, who are in pursuit of the abducted Sita.

Shabari offering fruits

Isometric view of pillar




Each pillar is unique & different from the rest here. This one for example has a cylindrical column inscribed within the outer 4 square columns

Unique pillar




This pillar for example has a carving of different forms of Maha Vishnu on each of its faces. In order 1) Lakshmi Narayana 
2) Bhu Varahaswamy 
3) Lakshmi Hayagreeva 
4) Lakshmi Narasimha

Lakshmi Narayana

Bhu Varahaswamy

Lakshmi Hayagreeva

Lakshmi Narasimha




A carving Ananthashayana Vishnu & Maha Lakshmi at their abode, Vaikuṇṭha

Ananthashayana Vishnu




Few more examples of different pillar design. Each pillar is unique. Really a joy for those who enjoy the intricacies.

Intricate Pillar designs





The west direction prakaram of the Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple

Small mantapam




Some of the pillar designs on the west side. Notice the complex geometrical design

Multi column pillar

optical illusion carvings



If you notice astutely, this carving is an optical illusion too. Step away from the screen & watch the inner squares turn into a sphere being pulled apart from every direction by the hook like object. Got to keep the screen at a distance to notice this.

Rope-sphere-hook optical illusion



The south side of the temple is where all the magnificent pillars are.

Pillars & Mantapam



South side pillars that we had a look at just a few tweets back, more carvings of scenes from the Ramayana.

More pillars






The outer walls of the south side of the Cheluvanarayana Swamy temple. Its was restored by the Mysore Maharajas after repeated islamic plunder.

South side



Now to the painful part of islamic iconoclasm. This for whatever reasons hasn't been part of the contemporary narrative. While the destruction is so apparent & hits one right in the face, devotees who visit the temple hardly take notice of it. Thats what "secular" conditioning does.

This temple has seen multiple waves of islamic plunder, the first wave was when barbarian alauddin khilji sent his eunuch general malik kafur down south to plunder the Hoysala kingdom. The second wave was after the fall of the Vijayanagara empire & finally tyrant tipoo who massacred 800+ Brahmins of this place.



The islamic iconoclasm becomes very apparent as soon as you exit the south side of the inner prakaram of the Cheluvanarayana Swamy sannidhi, the heads, hands & breasts(of female deities) chopped off, just like Hampi & elsewhere. Typical jihadi work.

Narasimha damaged by islamic invaders

damage by islamic invaders

more damage due to islamic invasions



The west side of the temple, arms of Shri Ramanujacharya chopped off, female figurines completely disfigured in typical jihadi fashion, arms of so many deities chopped off.

Shri Ramanuja




Destruction of carvings of the Vaishnavite saints, the Alwars on the north side of the temple. Typical islamic iconoclasm.

Damaged Alwars


This is all that is left of what one can only assume to be an Alwar.

typical jehadi work.


This is on the outermost prakaram, Lord Narasimha emerging out of the pillar to slay Hiranyakashipu. Arms chopped off by islamists.

Narasimha emerging out of the pillar


The very next carving depicts Narasimha chasing hiranyakashipu around before ripping him open. Again maimed by islamists.

Narasimha chasing around hiranyakashipu



Lakshmi & Narayana arms chopped off #IslamicIconoclasm

Lakshmi Narayana



This one was particularly disturbing. Lord Krishna's arms & limbs chopped off. Gaumata missing her head. Various other figurines maimed. That thin rope is probably what holds another sculpture from losing its head #IslamicIconoclasm

Shri Krishna




Lakshmi Narasimha, maimed just like the one at Hampi. islamic jihadis particularly went for Lakshmi here. Their hate for female divinity on full display here. Religion of peace indeed. #IslamicIconoclasm

Lakshmi Narasimha (maimed by jehadis)



Some of the carvings were so perversely maimed that they've had to be completely scrapped out from their niches. Particularly the females ones. islamists have particularly maimed them in unspeakable ways. Such contempt for feminine deities & females in general. #islamiciconoclasm

Female deities maimed in the most brutal ways

more destruction




Some of the niches are completely devoid of any carvings, yet one can see the remnants of what once must've been a magnificent set of carvings telling a tale of the glory of Maha Vishnu. All wiped out by islamic iconoclasts.
even more destruction



more islamic destruction



Can only imagine which deity this niche must've housed before its eventual maiming. Notice the parrot carvings & the beheaded female figurine. It tells you something.
empty niche



As you look around, all you find is destruction & desolation. A part of history lost forever. Whatever that our ancestors were trying to convey to us through these sculptures, lost forever... let that sink in..its gone.. #islamiciconoclasm

A part of history permanently lost



One of the very few carvings to have survived complete destruction (thank you for the small mercies) is that of Lord Ranganatha.

Ananthashayana Vishnu



A panoramic view of the south side of the Cheluvanarayana Swamy temple.

Panoramic view



More maimed carvings of Lakshmi Narasimha, Vishnu & Rama. #islamiciconoclasm

Lakshmi Narasimha, Vishnu & Rama



A very rare depiction of Lord Narasimha with Lakshmi standing besides him. Its always usually Lakshmi sitting on Narasimha's lap. On the right is a carving of Hanuman carrying Lord Rama on his shoulders. Both maimed by islamic barbarians.

Narasimha & Lakshmi

Hanuman carrying Rama



Narasimha blessing Bhakta Prahlada.

Narasimha blessing Bhakta Prahlada


Then a series of empty niches.... the glorious story of Maha Vishnu abruptly stopped by islamic iconoclasts...

Unquantifiable are the losses sustained due to islamic atrocities on Hindu Temples



Finally when one is done completing a full Pradakshina/Parikrama around the temple... The Garuda Sthambam facing Lord Cheluvanarayana Swamy.

Garudasthambham




Melukote is also home to the famous Yoga Narasimha Swamy temple. Its situated atop a hill called Yadagiri. It is about 3000ft above sea level & quite a climb.

Yoga Narasimhaswamy Temple atop Yadagiri hill.



Fortunately the area has a nice tree cover to protect devotees from complete exhaustion during a hot day's climb.

Climb towards the temple



En route you find these small mantapams every few meters to rest.

Small mantapam


Atop the Yadagiri hill. A view of the town of Melukote & its beautiful Pushkarini. The place is a joy for the eyes during monsoons, when every shrub,plant & tree turns lush green.

View of Melukote town from the hill




The main Gopuram of the Yoga Narasimha temple built during the Vijayanagara era was undergoing some restoration work.

Vijayanagara era Gopuram




Newly constructed smaller Gopuram

Newly constructed 2nd Gopuram




Had a nice darshana of Yoga Narasimha Swamy before making my way down to the Pushkarini below.

Pushkarani

Pushkarani



The Mantapam adjoining the Pushkarini. Notice the Shesha carving in the 3rd pic!! Though on the maintenance aspect much can be done... especially the pushkarini area... mere Bhakthi will not suffice, it is just one aspect of Dharma...

Mantapam adjacent to Pushkarani


Carvings on the pillars of the mantapam



That concludes the post on the Melukote Cheluvanarayana Swamy and Yoga Narasimha Swamy temples. Hope all you found it useful. Thank you for reading. Dhanyavaadam.

The ancient Hoysala era Chandramouleshwara Temple at Arasikere, Karnataka.

Chandramouleshwara Temple

This is the Chandramouleshwara temple located at Arasikere, around 180 kms from Bengaluru. It was built in the 12th century by the Hoysalas.


Nakshatra shaped mantapa
The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva & is unique in many ways. The most striking aspect of this temple is the above star shaped mukhamantapa.

Defaced carvings

The base of the mukhamantapa is adorned with numerous carvings of elephants which has suffered damage as a result of repeated barbaric invasions.



Exterior of the mukhamantapa
Unlike other temples, to have a darshan of Lord Shiva inside the garbhagriha, there is no direct straight access, since this particular mantapa is star shaped. Instead there are two lateral entrances at north and south of the mantapa.



Door leading to the Antarala
The ceiling in the mantapa is divided into nine compartments. There are four intricately carved pillars that support the ceiling. The Mantapa further leads to the Antarala & eventually to the garbhagriha. Unfortunately the doors were locked when I was there. 


Shikhara
As we step outside the mantapa to perform a pradikshana, we notice this highly intricate Shikhara which is decked with innumerable carvings.



Nandi on the Sukanasi
Just adjacent to the Shikhara is the Sukanasi over which is a carving of Nandi. This is a recent addition. This space which is over the Antarala ( a space connecting the mantapa to the Garbhagriha) usually features the famous "Sala fighting the lion" carving, which also happens to the the emblem of the Hoysala empire. It was probably damaged during islamic invasions.






As seen above, most of the sculptures have suffered extensive damage. Almost all beyond recognition unfortunately. While some are defaced, some have had their limbs/arms chopped off in true jehadi style. The kind of cultural losses Bharat suffered due to islamic invasions is simply quantifiable. Seeing such a fine temple, the very zenith of our Hindu architectural prowess in such a state left me depressed & devastated 😢😢  



I realize the damage on these sculptures are beyond any kind of restoration. At best we could preserve whatever is left of it.



Venugopala
A maimed carving of Krishna playing the flute.



                                                                                 Desecrated murthis
Murthis which were once part of active worship... Barbarically desecrated & left to rot in one corner of the temple.


                                                                Viragallu 
The virakallu (hero's stone) is the first thing that you notice as you enter the temple complex. Its carved in memory of brave warriors martyred in battle.





Viragallu
More damaged virakallus having inscriptions dating back to the 11th century. Stories about absolute bravery & sacrifice.


Bheereshwara & Veereshwara shrines
There is a secondary structure adjacent to the main one. Houses 3 different lingams. Notably Bheereshwara & Veereshwara.


Nagadevatas
Carvings of nagadevatas lay beneath those trees.


Entrance/exit
The scenery that greets you as you enter/exit the temple.


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