Hoysala Empire ruled most of the Karnataka state and was an important period of architecture, style and fine arts in South India. Halebeedu or Halebidu is an important temple town, situated about 200 KMs from Bengaluru in Karnataka. It was the capital city of the Hoysala Empire. This ruined city is famous for Hoysaleshwar temple, Jain Basadis and many other iconical temples which are examples of a glorious past of the city.
The most important temple in the town is the Hoysaleswar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Its extremely elaborate walls proudly wear the stories of various Gods and brave Hoysala soldiers in the form of beautiful sculptures engraved on its walls. About 340 large reliefs depict the Hindu theology and associated legends. Numerous smaller friezes narrate Hindu texts such as the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Bhagavata Purana. It attracts thousands of devotees year round as it is well known for its architecture and statues of the Hoysala period.
The magnificent temple derives its name from the preceding ruler of Hoysala dynasty who sponsored its construction, King Vishnuvardhana Hoysaleswara. The construction was started in 1121CE and was complete in 1160CE. The temple is a simple Dvikuta Vimala, meaning that it houses two main shrines; one dedicated to Hoysaleswara and another to Shantaleswara (named after Shantala Devi, wife and queen of King Vishnuvardhana). Apart from the two main shrines, there is a 7 ft tall image depicting the Sun God, Lord Surya and a massive sculpture of Nandi (Shiva’s attendant).
The temple is built of local soapstone. It is a star-shaped temple and has four porches for entry, each on north and south and two on the eastern side.
The lower portion of the temple is decorated with richly sculpted friezes which run continuously along the walls. The interior of the temple also follows the Dwikuta Vimana plan consisting of two identical shrines, each consist of a Garbhagriha, Sukanasi and a Darshana mandap or Navrang mandapa. The Garbhagriha is decorated with Makara Torana, above which different avatars of Vishnu is carved. Two small Nandis sit in front of the shrine facing the shiva lingams. The central verandah that joins the mandapa of both the shrines has a row of pillars in the north-south alignment. Each Navrang mandapa has richly carved four pillars and a raised ceiling.
The southern doorway has a delicately carved rich filigree work that is unrivaled and is considered a masterpiece. The central figure portrays Shiva in Nataraja pose along with Nandi and another musician. The entrance is also flanked by two big six feet high Dwarapalas, richly decorated with ornaments. Even though they are defaced and destroyed, they are captivating.
Today, the artwork and the architecture of the Hoysaleswara Temple are damaged because of the sacking by Muslims armies in the late 14th century. However, it is mostly intact, and the temple itself is considered as one of the seven wonders of the country. It has also been proposed to be listed under the UNESCO world heritage sites.
