Halebidu Hoysalesvara Temple Hassan tourism Karnataka tourism Temples of Karnataka Hoysala temple. Halebidu Hoysalesvara Temple or Hoysaleswara Temple.
Hoysaleswara Temple built by
Hoysaleswara temple, also known as the Halebidu temple, is an ancient stone carved 12th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. The Hoysaleswara temple, also spelled as Hoysaleshwara or Hoywalesvara temple, may be a twin-temple, or dvikuta vimana (plan with two shrines and two superstructures). Ketumalla, the chief of staff of Hoysala Kingdom, built this temple during 1121 A.D and attributed it to his king, Vishnuvardhana and queen, Shantala Devi. It is learnt that it took 105 years to complete. It is the largest temple built by the Hoysalas that is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva in South India.
Hoysaleswara Temple Plan
The temple has four entrances. The two temples are of an equivalent size, and their sanctums hospitable the east, facing sunrise. The sanctum of the “Hoysaleswara” (the king) and therefore the other for “Shantaleswara” (the queen, Shantala Devi) both have a Shiva linga. Outside on the side of the most temples are two smaller shrines, each with seated Nandi. To the east of the southern Nandi shrine may be a smaller attached Surya shrine, where there’s a 7 feet tall Surya statue facing the Nandi and therefore the sanctum. The temple was built with soapstone. The soapstone is soft when quarried and easier to carve into intricate shapes, but hardens over time when exposed to air.
The Hoysaleswara temple is a Shaivism tradition monument, yet reverentially includes many themes from Vaishnavism and Shaktism tradition of Hinduism, as well as images from Jainism. The Hoysaleswara temple may be a twin-temple dedicated to Hoysaleswara and Santaleswara Shiva lingas, named after the masculine and female aspects, both equal and joined at their transept. It has two Nandi shrines outside, where each seated Nandi face the respective Shiva linga inside. The temple includes a smaller sanctum for the Hindu Sun god Surya. It once had superstructure towers, but not and therefore the temple looks flat. The temple faces east, though the monument is presently visited from the north side. Both the most temples and therefore the Nandi shrines are supported a square plan. The temple artwork provides a pictorial window into the life and culture within the 12th century South India. About 340 large reliefs depict the Hindu theology and associated legends. Numerous smaller friezes narrate Hindu texts like the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and therefore the Bhagavata Purana. The temple was built on the banks of an outsized man-made lake, and sponsored by King Vishnuvardhana of the Hoysala Empire. Its construction started around 1121 CE and was complete in 1160 CE. During the early 14th century, Halebidu was twice sacked and plundered by the Muslim armies of Delhi Sultanate from northern India, and the temple and the capital fell into a state of ruin and neglect. The artwork in Hoysaleswara temple is damaged but largely intact. Within a couple of kilometers of the temple are numerous ruins of Hoysala architecture.
According to the UNESCO list, art historians recognise the exceptionally intricate sculptural artistry of nearby Jain Temples, The Kedareshwara temple, Temple at Belur and The Hoysaleshwara temple at Halebid to be among the masterpieces of South Asian art making the name of Hoysala synonymous with artistic achievement.
Hoysaleswara Temple Pillars
The interior walls of the temple are quite plain compared to the outer wall, except for the lathe turned pillars that run in rows between the north and south entrances. The four pillars in front of each shrine are the most ornate and the only ones that have the madanika sculptures in their pillar brackets.
The Hoysaleswara Temple is located in Halebidu, also called Halebeedu, Halebid, Dorasamudra.
How to reach Halebidu
Halebid may be a very village located near Hassan District of Karnataka. Halebidu is about 30 kilometres from Hassan. The temple is about 16 kilometers from Belur temples and 210 kilometres from Bengaluru, 119 kilometres from Mysore and 171 kilometers from Mangalore.
The nearest railroad station is Hassan (27 km) from there the temple are often accessed by taxi. The nearest airport is at Mangalore (168km), . Bus services also are available, connecting Halebid to all or any major cities. There are tons of state and personal buses which run from Bengaluru, It takes approx 7 hrs. to succeed in . Car journey takes around 5 hrs .The nearest railway stations to Halebid are Mysore, Mangalore and Hassan.
