The Visit to this Shri Veeranarayana Swami Temple
at Belavadi, in Karnataka, was a part of “Karnataka State, Hoysala Period Shiva
and temple’s visit”- between 28th - 30th July 2023, organised by தொண்டை மண்டல வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம் "திருக்கச்சி" FB
Group. This temple is also called as Viranarayana temple of
Belavadi, a small Village in Chikamagaluru district of Karnataka. It is
believed that this place was associated with the epic Mahabharata and called as
Ekachakranagar. Beema killed the demon Bakasura and saved the people of this
village.
Moolavar : Shri
Veeranarayana Swami
Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple is on the banks of Belavadi Kere / tank, facing east
with a Dwajasthambam and two elephants on both side of the entrance. This is a
threekuta temple dedicated for Maha Vishnu as Viranarayana facing east, Gopala
facing north and Yoga Narasimha facing South.
Veeranarayana is about 8 feet tall made of saligrama, in
standing posture on a padma peedam, with 4 hands holding sankha and chakra in
the upper hands. Veeranarayana image is one of the best example of Hoysala art.
Venugopala is also about 8 feet tall in standing posture
chiselled out of saligrama, playing flute under kalpa vruksham. Cattles are
shown on both sides. Periya thiruvadi Garudan is at the base.
Yoga Narasimhar is little short about 7 feet in sitting posture,
holding sankha and Chakra in the upper hands and lower hands are on the knees.
The posture is called swastika asana. Yoga Narasimhar is also made of
Saligramam. Sridevi and Bhudevi are on both sides. Sitting calm after killing
Hiranyakasibu.
PC - Website
ARCHITECTURE
The total temple was built with Chloritic schist, more commonly
known as soapstone. The temple is with three separate sannidhis connected with
a 103 feet ranga mandapa. This is a threekuta temple with Square sanctum
sanctorum and a Vesara vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. Stone Elephants are at the entrance of the
Temples. The Mandapas has number of bays supported with lathe turned soap stone
pillars and intricately carved pillars.
The sanctum sanctorum is of square in shape with a projections in
the middle. The Veeranarayana temple walls are plain and vimana has the
intricately carved panels with deities related to vaishnavam.
The two new shrines, the Gopala and Yoga Narasimha, the sanctum
sanctorum of which one is in square shape and the other one is in Star ie
stellate shape. The Sanctum sanctorums are connected with main mandapam /
navaranga mandapam through vestibule /
antarala. The Suka nasis of the vimana on the first tier is extended up to
vestibule.
The walls and Vimana of the main temple has number of sculpture
panels of Maha Vishnu’s various avatars with and without his consorts in
standing and sitting postures.
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
This is one of the Temple built in 1200 CE, during the Hoysala
King Veera Ballala-II period. During 14th Century Muslims invasion
this temple was also subjected to damage. The structure of the temples Yoga
Narasimhar and Gopala, indicates that the construction of the temple took long
years, may around 1206 CE.
HOW TO REACH
The temple / Village is about 4 KM off from the Mangalore-
Villupuram road, 12 KM from Halebeedu, 28 KM from Belur, 42 KM from Hassan, 155
KM from Mysore and 222 KM from Bangalore.
Nearest railway Station is Hassan.
LOCATION OF THE
TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
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