Nuggehalli

The Lakshminarasimha temple at Nuggehalli is a 13th-century Hindu temple with Hoysala architecture in Nuggehalli village, Hassan district, Karnataka, India. This three shrine Vaishnava complex is dedicated to Keshava, Lakshminarayana and Venugopala. The temple is notable for its Vaishnava reliefs, Shaiva reliefs such as those of Harihara, Dakshinamurti, Chandikesvara and Ganesha, Shakti reliefs such as of Durga Mahisasuramardini, dancing Lakshmi and Saraswati, as well as Vedic deities such as Surya and Brahma. The lower section depicts scenes from the Hindu epics and the ''Bhagavata Purana''. The artwork completed and signed by the Hoysala artist Mallitamma are particularly notable.R Narasimhachar (1915), Annual Report Archaeological Survey of Mysore June 1913, pp. 2–3 with Plate II

Location and date

Nuggehalli, also referred to as Nuggihalli or Nuggelli, is located in Channarayapatna taluk of Hassan district in Karnataka state, India. It is located on the Tiptur-Channarayapatna state highway and is about 50 km from Hassan city (NH 75, SH 47). It is about 80 km southeast of Halebidu, and is well connected by road with Bangalore, the state capital.

The town was called Vijaya Somanathapura before the 14th-century and gained importance as an ''agrahara'' (place of learning) during the time of Bommanna Dandanayaka. The Lakshmi Narasimha temple was built in 1246 CE by Bommanna Dandanayaka, a commander in the Hoysala Empire during the rule of King Vira Someshwara. It is a good example of 13th century Hoysala architecture. Located a short distance away in Nuggehalli, and built around the same time is the Sadashiva temple.Foekema (1996), p. 83.

Architecture

This is a good example of a richly decorated Hoysala temple built in the ''trikuta'' (three towers) ''vimana'' (shrine) style with fine sculptures adorning the walls.Quote:"Most Hoysala temples are either ekakuta (one tower), dvikuta (two towers) or trikuta, Foekema (1996), p. 25 The material used is Chloritic Schist, more commonly known as Soapstone).Quote:"The Western Chalukya carvings were done on green schist (Soapstone). This technique was adopted by the Hoysalas too, ''Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent'', Takeo Kamiya

The temple is built on a '' jagati'' (platform) that closely follows the plan of the temple.Quote:"The Jagati is in perfect unity with the rest of the temple", Foekema (1996), p. 25 On it are the three shrines located around a central closed ''ranga-mantapa''. The ceiling of this ''mantapa'' is supported by four lathe turned pillars which is deeply domed in the center.Quote:"This is a common feature of Western Chalukya-Hoysala temples", Kamath(2001), p. 117

The central shrine is the most prominent one and has a large tower. This shrine has a vestibule that connects the shrine to the ''mantapa'' (hall). Above the vestibule is a short extension called the ''sukanasi''.Quote:"It is on the ''sukanasi'' that the Hoysala crest is placed". The crest consists of a sculpture of "Sala" the mythical founder of the empire, fighting the lion. Foekema (1996), p. 22 The other two shrines have smaller towers. The main tower has lost the ''kalasha'' (decorative structure on top).Quote:"water pot like decorative stone structure on top of the tower. This is often lost over the centuries and normally seen replaced by a metallic pinnacle", Foekema (1996), p. 27 Since the shrine is square in plan, the topping roof follows the same plan. There are three tiers of decorative smaller roofs that form the body of the main tower. The two lateral shrines also have five projections per side. The top of these shrines and the wall of the ''mantapa'' are crowned with a row of decorated roofs just like the main shrine. The three shrines are dedicated to Venugopala, Keshava and Lakshminarasimha, all avatars of Vishnu.

From outside, the temple actually looks like an ''ekakuta'' (single tower and shrine) temple because the two lateral shrines are simple extensions of the wall of the ''mantapa''. This is a classic example of a ''trikuta'' (three shrines and towers) that looks like a ''ekakuta''.Fokema (1996), p. 84 A large open ''mantapa''(hall) was added after the main temple was complete. This makes the closed ''mantapa'' look like the inner portion of the temple. The central shrine has five projections per side.

According to art critic Gerard Foekema, the temple illustrates the Hoysala style for the wall sections. The roof meets the outer walls of the temple with two eaves all round the temple.Quote:"An eaves is a projecting roof, overhanging the wall", Foekema (1996), p. 93 The upper eave projects about half a meter from the wall. There is a second eave running about a meter below the upper eaves with decorative miniature towers (aedicule) between them. The wall images of Hindu gods and goddesses and their attendants are below the lower eaves, and there are 120 such sculptured panels in all. Below these are six moldings of equal size with decorations in frieze. This according to historian Kamath is the "horizontal treatment" that is a hallmark of the later Hoysala temples.<Kamath (2001), p. 134

The six moldings at the base of the wall is divided into two sections. Starting from the base where the wall meets the ''jagati'', the first horizontal molding contains procession of elephants, above which are a horsemen, and a band of foliage on the third. The second horizontal section starts with depictions from the Hindu epics and ''puranic'' scenes executed with detail. Above this are two friezes of ''yalis'' (or ''makara'', an imaginary beast) and ''hamsas'' (swans). The ''vimana'' tower is divided into three horizontal sections and is even more ornate than the walls.Foekema (1996), p. 24Quote:"Art critic Percy Brown calls this one of the distinguishing features of Hoysala art", Kamath (2001), p. 134

The images in the panels mostly depict Vaishnava legends and they are attributed to two well known Hoysala sculptors, Baichoja and Mallitamma.Foekema (1996), p.85 However, like many Hindu temples, other traditions are included. This temple has some panels with Shiva and related legends, such as in the form of Bhairava along with his consort Bhairavi. Baichoja's sculptures are on the south side of the temple. Mallitamma's sculptures are on the north side.Foekema, (2001), p. 85

Gallery

File:Lakshminarasimha temple at Nuggehalli north western closeup view.jpg, The original temple on the jagati
File:Lord Krishna Carrying the Govardhan Mountain - Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Nuggehalli 11.jpg, Krishna Goverdhandhara
File:Goddess Durga - Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Nuggehalli 17.jpg, Durga Mahisasuramardini
File:Relief sculpture of dancing Ganesha in Lakshmi Narasimha temple at Nuggehall.JPG, Dancing Ganesha
File:Shri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Nuggehalli - 7.jpg, Garuda
File:Molding frieze and Hindu deities in relief in Lakshmi Narasimha temple at Nuggehalli.JPG, Temple's base moldings

See also

* Bagur, Hassan
* Sadasiva Temple

References

Bibliography

* Suryanath U. Kamath (2001). A Concise History of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter books, MCC, Bangalore (Reprinted 2002).
* Gerard Foekema, A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples, Abhinav, 1996
*

External links

{{Wikivoyage, Nuggehalli

Nuggehalli, A haven for architecture lovers




a local temple conservation initiative

Hassan district