Amriteswara Temple, Amritapura, Chikmagalur District
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Amriteswara Temple, Amritapura, Chikmagalur District
The last decade of the 12th century saw the rise of one such temple
emerge on the horizon of a small hamlet called Amritapura, near
Tarikere taluk in Chikmagalur district. Built in 1196 A D by Amitayya
Dannayaka, an able general of Hoysala king Vira Ballala II, the village
was convened in to an agrahara and the Amriteswara temple formed the
nucleus of this agrahara.
The earliest temple built in 1196 AD consists of a garbhagriha, a
sukhanasi, a navaranga and a porch, which was followed later with
additions (after a decade) like a mukhamantapa, known for its
coruscating conglomeration of turrets and pilasters, creepers and
floral designs that decorate the outer walls.
The original structure has the common architectural schema of squares
rising on a set of molded cornices, above which the sculptor has
displayed his carving skills profusely through decorated niches with
long turrets supported by pilasters and flanked by a long vertical band
of ornate floral designs. However, the space meant for sculptures in
the niches has only stone blocks, suggesting the half-finished work of
the temple. This, when compared to the Nageswara temple at Mosale in
Hassan, where we find representation of varied forms of Shiva and his
entourage, may be indicative of the shortage of sculptors who were
well-versed in the Saivite iconography at that time.
The mukhamantapa, which is supposed to have been added later in 1206
AD, does not have molded cornices. The complete architectural idiom of
the mukhamantapa is, perhaps, unmet in any other temple. Above these
turreted sikharas, between two horizontal bands of creepers, are small
sculptures representing stories from Ramayana, Mahabharata and
Bhagavata. The story-teller in the sculptor has reveled here in
narrating the mythological sequences in its simplest form.
The soaring spire on the garbhagriha is unmatched in its beauty with
seven steps of indented squares, each step fully ornamented with
kirtimukhas. The parapet wall above the eaves has spellbinding minute
carvings of kirtimukhas, floral scrolls, and sculptures of gods and
goddesses. A large panel of Shiva (dancing) killing the demon Gajasura
is on the sukhanasi projection of the tower.
The highly polished pillars supporting the large navaranga ceilings are
the exquisite part of the Hoysala architecture. The indomitable
sculptor Mallitamma, who had worked on the six Hoysala temples built
over a period of six decades, had started his career from this temple
by working on some of the ceilings of this navaranga.
The large stone inscription in the temple complex is a fine example of
medieval Kannada poetry, composed by famous poet Janna, who claims to
be a great friend of good poets.
banu ravi shanker
Manoj Kumar Sreeram
Yes these temples are in good conditions and are maintained by Sree
Dharmastala Munjunatha Trust headed by Sri Veerendra Heggade
There are about 600 temple built during Hoysala period out of which
some 120 temples are identified and maintained.
Manoj