TheAmruteshvara templealso spelt "Amrutesvara" or "Amruteshwara", is located in the village of Amruthapura, 67 km north ofChikmagalurtown in theChikkamagaluru districtof theKarnataka state,India.Located 110 km fromHassanand 50 km fromShimogaon NH 206, Amruthapura is known for the Amruteshvara temple. The temple was built in 1196 CE by AmrutheshwaraDandanayaka(lit,"commander" ) underHoysalaKingVeera Ballala II.[1]
Amrutesvara Temple, Amruthapura | |
|---|---|
village | |
 Ekakuta(singly shrined), Amruteshvara temple, 1196,Chikkamagaluru district | |
  Amrutesvara Temple, Amruthapura Location in Karnataka, India | |
| Coordinates:13°44′28″N75°51′14″E/ 13.741°N 75.854°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Karnataka |
| District | Chikkamagaluru District |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Kannada |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30(IST) |
Amrutesvara temple
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The temple is a built according toHoysala architecturewith a wide openmantapa(hall).[2]The temple has an original outer wall with unique equally spaced circular carvings. The temple has onevimana(shrine and tower) and therefore is aekakutadesign,[3]and has a closedmantapa(hall) that connects the sanctum to the large openmantapa.
It is medium-sized Hoysala temple with certain vastu features similar to theVeera Narayana Temple, Belavadiinmantapastructure and size. The openmantapahas twenty nine bays,[4]and the closedmantapahas nine bays with a side porch that leads to a separate shrine on the south side. The shrine is square in shape has the original superstructure (shikhara) which is adorned with sculptures ofKirtimukhas(demon faces), miniature decorative towers (aedicule). Below the superstructure, the usually seen panel ofHindudeities is absent. The base of the wall has five mouldings which according to art critic Foekema is an "older Hoysala style".[5]Thesukanasi,the tower on top of thevestibulethat connects the sanctum to the closedmantapa(theSukanasiappears like the nose of the superstructure),[6]has the original Hoysala emblem of "Sala" fighting the lion.[7][8]
The rows of shining lathe turned pillars that support the ceiling of themantapais a Hoysala-Chalukya decorative idiom.[9]Themantapahas many deeply domed inner ceiling structures adorned with floral designs. The outer parapet wall of the openmantapahas a total of hundred and forty panel sculptures with depictions from the Hindu epics. Unlike many Hoysala temples where the panels are small and carvings in miniature, these panels are comparatively larger. TheRamayanais sculpted on the south side wall on seventy panels, with the story proceeding quite unusually, in anti-clockwise direction. On the north side wall, all depictions are clockwise, a norm in Hoysala architectural articulation. Twenty five panels depict the life of the Hindu godKrishnaand the remaining forty five panels depict scenes from the epicMahabharata.[9]
Ruvari Mallitamma, the well known sculptor and architect is known to have started his career here working on the domed ceilings in the mainmantapa.[10]
The large stone inscription near the porch contains poems composed by medieval Kannada poetJannawho had the honorificKavichakravarti(lit,"emperor among poets" ).[1]
Gallery
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Profile of shrine outer wall withShikara(tower) at Amrutesvara temple, Amruthapura -
Close up of mantapa wall with miniature decorative towers, swirls and flourish in relief at Amrutesvara temple, Amruthapura -
Mantapa wall with miniature decorative towers (aedicule) in relief at Amrutesvara temple, Amruthapura -
Wall relief at Amrutesvara temple, Amruthapura -
Wall relief at Amrutesvara temple, Amruthapura -
Close up of wall relief at Amrutesvara temple, Amruthapura -
Wall relief sculpture of the Amrutesvara temple -
Wall relief sculpture at the Amrutesvara temple, Amruthapura -
Wall relief sculpture at Amrutesvara temple, Amruthapura -
Wall relief sculpture at Amrutesvara temple, Amruthapura -
Perforated window art at Amrutesvara temple, Amruthapura -
Hindu deity sculpture at Amrutesvara temple, Amruthapura -
Domical ceiling art at Amrutesvara temple, Amruthapura -
Domical ceiling art at Amrutesvara temple, Amruthapura -
Domical ceiling art at Amrutesvara temple, Amruthapura -
Wall relief sculpture, Amrutesvara temple -
Decorative swirls in bas-relief on mantapa outer wall at Amrutesvara temple, Amruthapura
Notes
edit- ^ab"Amritesvara Temple".Archaeological Survey of India, Bengaluru Circle.ASI Bengaluru Circle.Retrieved26 July2021.
- ^Foekema (1996), p37
- ^Quote: "Depending on the number of towers, temples are classified asekakuta(one),dvikuta(two),trikuta(three),chatushkuta(four) andpanchakuta(five). The last two types are rare. Sometimes atrikutatemple is literally nottrikutaas only the central of three shrines may have a superstructure ", Foekema (1996), p25
- ^Quote: "A bay is a square or rectangular compartment in the hall", Foekema (1996) p36, p93
- ^Quote: "In a typical" older style "that was popular throughout most of the 12th century Hoysala temples, there is one set ofeaveswhere the tower meets the wall of the shrine. The eaves runs all around the temple. Eaves is a projecting roof overhanging the temple wall. Below the eaves are decorated miniature towers on pilasters. Below these towers are the wall panels of Hindu Gods, Goddesses and their attendants. Below these panels are the five mouldings ", Foekema (1996), p28
- ^Foekema(1996), p22
- ^Foekema (1996), p22
- ^According to Kamath, Sala fights a tiger. According to historians such as C. Hayavadhana Rao,J. D. M. Derrettand B. R Joshi, "Sala" was the mythical founder of the empire, Kamath (2001), p123
- ^abQuote: "a common feature of Western Chalukya-Hoysala temples", Kamath (2001), p117
- ^Architectural marvelby P.B.Premkumar,Spectrum,Tuesday, 20 January 2004"Architectural marvel - Deccan Herald".Archived fromthe originalon 30 May 2006.Retrieved13 November2006.
See also
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