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.
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 AD) established Kosala kingdom in Hasan District keeping Belur as Capital. The next King Vinayathithan shifted his capital to Halabed. His successor Veera Narasimha -II expanded his territory throughout Karnataka.
This temple was constructed in 1234 AD by Harihara Danayaka, an officer under the Hoysala King Narasimha-II. The temple built on a raised jagati, is of trikutachala type consisting of three garbhagrihas on the west, north and south, a sukanasi, a navaranga, a small porch and a nandimandapa. The jagati is approached by the steps of steps flanked on either side by miniature shrines with turretted canopies above. The turrets are empty now.
There are three square garbhagrihas in the temple; 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 garbhagrihas do not have original sculptures now. The southern garbhagriha has a loose sculpture of Surya standing in samabhanga. He is two handed. The height of this sculpture is 3 4 feet. He holds a lotus. In the Nothern garbhagriha is kept a loose sculpture of naga and nagakanni. It is interesting to note that the nandimandapa is fused with mukhamandapa with the help of perforated screens. In the arthamandapa, Dwarabalakas on both sides, holding damru, katvanga, gada entwined by a naga, Saptha mathas, Mahisha mardhini sculptures are worth to see.
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.
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 Ganesa, Sarasvati, Dancing Siva, As Vishnu. Lakshmi, Yoganarayana, dancing Sarasvati, Ravana lifting Kailasa etc,.
There are three Hoysala inscriptions related to this temple. The earliest of them belongs to the period - Narasimha I1 and is dated saka 1157. Ie 1234 A.D. mentions the construction of the temple and temple tank and burning of perpetual lamp, by Harihara Nayaka of the Tenadanka family.
The 1237 AD 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 Village.
The 1267AD 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 ways, I may not be able to give the local conveyance, but the distance are give from where you may get public / private transport.
27 K M from Mandya, 30 KM from Melkote, 75 KM from Mysuru.
LOCATION:CLICK HERE
Vimana with Hoysala symbol.
Mahisha mardini
Naga and Nagakanni
Dansing Saraswati
Shiva with Katvangam
Arjuna Shooting arrow
Vishnu with Bahunali- as Vamana
Vishnu in meditation
---OM SHIVYA NAMA---
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