Veera-Narayana Temple, Belavadi, Chikmagalur District
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Belavadi is a small village situated 29 kilometres south east of
Chikmagalur on Chikmagalur - Javagal Highway and 10 kilometres North
West of Halebid. The village is popular for Veeranarayana temple built
during the Hoysala period. This temple, declared as a protected
monument, is one of the largest Hoysala temples.
It is a Trikutachala structure with three cells dedicated to
Veeranarayana, Venugopala and Yoganarasimha. The temple is a fine
example of Hoysala architecture. The west side of the temple consists
of a square garbhagriha, a sukanasi, navaranga and square mukhamantapa.
The whole structure has been constructed on a raised platform. The
Veeranarayana cell has a tower over the sanctum and a large stone
kalasa on the shikara.
The navaranga has large bell shaped pillars. The ceiling of the
sukhanasi is a dome with an octagonal gallery and circles above. Inside
the garbhagriha an 8-foot Veeranarayana is placed on the Garuda
pedestal. The image is elegantly carved and elaborately ornamented
where the deity is standing in stanaka pose with four hands. The idol
is said to be one of the best specimens of Hoysala art.
22 pillars, 20 of which are round bell-shaped ones, support the
Mukhamantapa of the Veeranarayana shrine and the other two are
star-shaped. An important feature of the temple is the stone bench
which runs all round the edge of the mukhamantapa. It is ornamented
with rosettes and plasters.
To the east of the temple is a sabhamantapa with sukanasi and a pair of
garbhagrihas facing each other, containing the images of Venugopala and
Yoganarasimha.
The image of Venugopala is about 8ft in height inclusive of the Garuda
pedestal and prabhavali. Venugopala stands cross-legged and his fingers
are lifted as if playing the flute. The image of Yoganarasimha is about
7ft high with prabhavali where Narasimha, seated in yogic posture, has
a band carved around it to help keep the legs in position. The image
has a fine kreeta and protruding eyes. The towers of Venugopala and
Yoganarasimha shrines are similar to the Veeranarayana shrine and have
turrets, ornamented keerthimukhas and varied sculptures.
All the ceiling panels of the temple, except those of the veranda, are
well carved.
Some of these ceilings are flat while a majority of them are dome-like
containing intricate geometrical patterns of various designs. The flat
ceilings have the images of Krishna playing on the flute,
Kalingamardhana and Kamsavadha in different postures.
To the east of this Trikutachala temple is a large inverted cone-like
structure on a high ground with a square hall and a spacious porch.
This is the mahadwara or the main gateway of the temple. A pair of
impressively carved elephants flanks both entrances of this structure.