27th
January.
We
were exhausted completely after trekking the Savannappa hill to see the 2.2
meter high Bahubali. It was around 21.00 hrs when we returned to Mandya, a Part
of Hoysala Region. Started our second day visit around 07.00 hrs. It was planned to visit Hoysala period temples and structures on the second day. Our
first visit was to the Hoysala period Sri Mallikarjuna Temple at Basaral. The original name of the village was Basurivala and it was an agrahara.
Vimana with Hoysala embalm.
The
presiding deity : Sri Mallikarjuna
The salient features of this temple are…
Hoysalas belongs to south India’s western ghats. After fall of
Western Chalukyas Nirupakaman ( 1022- 1040 CE ) established Kosala kingdom in
Hassan District keeping Belur as Capital. The next King Vinayathithan shifted
his capital to Halebidu. His successor Veera Narasimha-II expanded his
territory throughout Karnataka.
This temple was constructed in 1234 CE by Harihara Danayaka, an officer under the Hoysala King Narasimha-II. The temple is of trikutachala, consisting of three garbhagrihas on the west, north and south, a sukanasi, a navrang, a mukapandapa, a nandimandapa and a dvaramandapa. The Temple has two entrances to the south and North of the dvaramandapa. The temple was built on a raised jagathi. The jagati is approached by the steps and steps flanked on either side by miniature shrines with turretted canopies above. The turrets are empty now. The Jagati is built corresponding contour of the temple. It provides a space five feet wide round the structure which can be used as outer Circumambulation.
The garbhagrihas are in square in shape, the main or the western one has a fine linga of about a foot in height. This Western garbhagriha has three niches on the western, southern and northern walls which are now empty. The
southern and the northern garbhagriha do not have original sculptures now. The southern garbhagriha has a loose sculpture of Surya standing in samabhanga. He is of two handed. The height of this sculpture is 3.4 feet and holds a lotus. In
the Northern garbhagriha is kept a loose sculpture of Naga and Nagakini. It is interesting to note that the nandi mandapa is fused with mukha mandapa with the help of perforated screens. In the ardha mandapa, Dwarapalakas on both sides, holding damru, katvanga, gada entwined by a naga, Saptamatrikas, Mahisha mardhini, Ganesha sculptures are worth to see.
Mahisha mardini
Dancing Saraswati
Saraswati sitting the lap of Brahma
The doorway of the garbhagriha has two Saiva
dvarapalas and a architectural framework having two pilasters, a canopy. and
three turrets interspersed by rampant lions. The bhuvaneswari of the sukhanasi
at the lower portion of the western garbhagriha consists of designs of squares
and circles within each other and flower bud hanging at the center. The
southern garbhagriha has Bhuvaneswari consisting of octagonal and circular -
one within the other.
Main entrance to the shrine
The superstructure sanctum rising in 3 tiers is
treated with stylished sala, kuta and panjara motifs, with creeper, kirtimukha,
yaksha yakshi decorations. The sala motifs at the cardinals have elaborately
sculptured deities like Nataraja, Siva, Parvati etc. The mahanasa of the
sukanasa projection has a fine sculptural representation of Tanda torana. The
majestic royal crest occupies the gable roof of the sukanasa. The prastara of
the Bastal temple is one of the best
preserved of all Hoysala temples treated with sculptures of Ganesha, Sarasvati,
Dancing Siva, Vishnu, Lakshmi, Yoga Narayana, dancing Sarasvati, Ravana
lifting Kailasa, Arjuna shooting arrow, Ravana Lifting Kailash, Chaturmukha Brahma with Saraswati on his lap, etc,.
Lakshmi narayan
There are three Hoysala inscriptions related to
this temple. The earliest of them belongs to the period of Narasimha-II, dated saka 1157, ie 1234 CE. mentions the construction of the temple, a temple tank and a gift of perpetual lamp, by
Harihara Nayaka of the Tenadanka family.
The 1237 CE, second inscription is in the form of poem
composed by Chidananda and mentions the details of gifts to this temple. Harihara Dandanayaka made a gift of two
villages Babi and Terani to this Temple.
The 1267 CE, third inscription mentions the gifts of
65 gadyanas towards Srikarya.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
Regular poojas are conducted. Since the temple is
under the control of ASI kept open between 09.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs.
HOW TO REACH:
Since we hired a Taxi to visit temples on both the days, I may not be able to give the local conveyance, but the distances are given and from where you may get public / private transport.
27 K M from Mandya, 30 KM from Melkote, 75 KM from
Mysuru / Mysore.
LOCATION:CLICK HERE
Naga and Nagakini
Shiva
Arjuna Shooting an arrow
Vishnu with Bahubali- as Vamana
Vishnu in meditation
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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