THE HOYSALESWARA TEMPLE

HALEBEEDU, KARNATAKA

PRESENTED BY GROUP 4
INDRODUCTION
• Hoysaleswara temple also refered as halebidu
temple, a large monument in halebidu, a town in
karnataka.
• It is a former capital of hoysala empire which is
sponsored by king vishnuvardhana.
• It is a 12th CE hindu temple dedicated to lord
shiva.The temple is renowned for its intricate
sculpture and ordinate carvings.
• It took over 80 Years to complete the
construction.It is built on the bank of a man
made lake. This temple consist of twin shrines
and believed to be the largest Shiva temple.
 HISTORY
• The Hoysala period started in South Indian history began about
1000 CE.
• .The hoysalaswara temple orgnally know as dorasamudra was
built by King Vishnu vardhanaDorasamudra(gateway/door).
• Temple was dedicated to lord ShivaIn 14th century, the empire
was invaded by the Delhi sultanate armies.
• The territory was taken over by vijayanagara EmpireThe
Dorasamudra and temples became ruins,
• .The capital was abandoned and the site became known as
halebidu (old camp).
• Stone screens and outer walls were added.The ruins of shikhara
was repaired and restored many times in 19th and 20th century
• The name Hoysaleshvara signifies the temple's association with the
Hoysala royal family.
• The temple's strategic location near the Hoysala palace underscores its
connection to the royal family.
• Despite the royal connection, the inscription from 1120 reveals that the
primary patron was a merchant named Ketamalla.
• Ketamalla sponsored the temple's construction, showcasing the
significant role of wealthy merchants in supporting monumental
projects.
• The inscription highlights the partnership between Ketamalla and King
Vishnuvardhana, with the king granting land to the temple in return.
• The 'Sunakasi' superstructure on the shrines was a row of
decorated miniature roofs on top of the hall's attics.
• Unfortunately, the Sunakasi superstructure is now missing from
the shrines, leaving a void in the temple's original architectural
features.
• Even the towers of the shrines have vanished, contributing to the
temple's altered appearance over time.
ARCHITECTURE SPATIAL PLANNING
• The temple is a Shaivism tradition monument, yet reverentially includes many themes from Vaishnavism
and Shaktism tradition of Hinduism, as well as images from Jainism.

• It is a twin-temple dedicated to Hoysaleswara and Santaleswara Shiva lingas, named after the masculine
and feminine 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 no longer and the temple looks flat. The temple faces east, though the monument is presently visited
from the north side. Both the main temples and the Nandi shrines are based on a square plan.
 SPATIAL PLANNING
• Stellate plan: These shrines are established intricately in the design o
a star.

• Both the main temples and the Nandi shrines are based on a square
plan.

• The temple faces east, though the monument is presently visited from
the north side.

• It is a twin-shrined temple dedicated to Lord ShivaThe temple

includes a smaller sanctum for the Hindu Sun god Surya.
SANCTUM
Main Sanctums:
•Twin temples dedicated to "Hoysaleswara" Shiva (king) and "Shantaleswara"
Shiva (queen).
•Equal-sized sanctums with view doorways, guarded by dvarapalas, leading to
vestibule chambers.
•Carvings depict Shiva, Parvati, devas, devis, and mythical sea creatures.
•Doorjambs adorned with purnaghatas.
•Original towers (shikhara) are lost, giving the temple a flat appearance.
•Plain sanctum walls focus on the spiritual symbol.

Smaller Shrines:
•Various smaller shrines within the complex.
•Nandi shrines feature a Nandi in the sanctum.
•Surya shrine dedicated to the Hindu Sun god.
• Attached to southern Nandi
Shrine, two mandapas are
connected giving a view of a large,
open navaranga for family and
public gatherings.
• The platform is 15 feet wide
around the outer walls of the
temple, meant for the visitor to
walk on and view the artwork
clockwise while completing the
circumambulation of the sanctums.
•
It is called the pradakshina-patha
(path for circumambulation).
 ARCHITECTURAL STYLE

• Hoysaleshwara is an example of hoysala architecture

• Hoysala temples are sometimes called vesara

• The unique style seems neither completely Dravida nor Nagara, but somewhere in between.

• However, the major difference between the Nagara & Dravidian architecture and Hoysala
architecture is that the temple premise of former was laid out in the panchayatan style
(principal temple and four subsidiary shrines), whereas the latter is based on stellate plan (star
shape layout of the temple).
 DESIGN FEATURES
The design of the Hoysaleshvara temple’s exterior walls is
divided into three parts.
• Bottom: Eight sculptural friezes with imagery of elephants,
lions, vines, horses, narratives, makaras, and hamsas
• Above: Large figural images carved into blocks over five feet
high, representing Hindu deities, divine musicians, dancers,
and celestial beings
• Top: Schematic images of temple towers supported on
pillars, separated from the figures below by an overhanging
eave with a motif of jeweled garlands.
• Three-part design observed on western, northern, and
southern sides, and central section of the eastern side-
Eastern side features stone screens between narrative friezes
and roofline
• Apart from divine figures, the carvings also include depictions of
human figures engaged in various activities, as well as intricate
carvings of animals and mythical creatures. This adds a rich tapestry
of life and symbolism to the temple's ornamentation.
• Erotic Sculptures (Maithuna): The temple is notable for its depiction
of erotic sculptures known as "maithuna." While these carvings are
often a subject of curiosity, they are considered a part of the temple's
larger narrative, symbolizing fertility, marital bliss, and the cycle of
life.
• Architectural Integration: The sculptures seamlessly integrate with the
temple's overall architectural design. They adorn not only the outer
walls but also the inner sanctums and pillars, contributing to the
holistic aesthetic experience of the Hoysaleswara Temple.
 SCULPTURES
• The sculptures and carvings at Hoysaleswara Temple, located in
Halebidu, Karnataka, exhibit remarkable intricacy and attention to
detail. The artisans carved elaborate designs on the temple walls and
pillars.
• The carvings primarily depict scenes from Hindu mythology,
showcasing various gods, goddesses, and mythological narratives.
Each sculpture tells a story, and visitors can identify characters from
epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
• The temple features a diverse pantheon of Hindu deities, including
representations of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi, and
others.
• renowned for their expressive facial features, portraying a range of
emotions. The artisans skillfully conveyed joy, sorrow, anger, and
other sentiments through the finely carved expressions on the faces of
deities and mythical beings.
• Carved lattice frames lets in light and air.
 CONCLUSION
• The Hoysaleswara Temple is a great example of Hoysala dynasty's amazing architecture.
• The temple's detailed sculptures and careful craft show how skilled the artists were.
• The design mixes math precision and spiritual symbols, making it special.
• Every sculpture and pillar has a story to tell, making the temple unique.
• Besides being a place to worship, the temple is like a canvas for creative expression.
• It's strong and has lasted a long time, showing how good Hoysala architecture is.
• The temple balances being new and traditional, paying close attention to details and being deeply spiritual.
• - Exploring the temple helps us learn about history, culture, and why Hoysala architecture is so important.