Lakshminarayana Temple, Hasaholalu

Karnataka, Mandya, Bengaluru

The Hosaholaluhe Temple of Sri Lakshminarayana temple was built in 1250 A.D by King Vira Someshwara. The temple is situated in the small town of Hosaholalu which is in the Krishnarajapet taluk of Mandya district. This taluk has numerous temples built under the rule of the Hoysala Empire from 11th to 14th Century and so is referred as the 'Motherland of Hoysala temples'. Due to its intricate artwork and beautiful sculptures, this temple has been compared to the famous temples.

Legend

Vira Someshwara (1234-1263) was a king of the Hoysala Empire the Hoysalas consolidated their domination over the South Deccan by asserting complete influence on the Cholas and the Pandyas. He constructed certain temples with hosalaya style of architecure most of the sculptured images represent forms of Lord Vishnu holding in his four arms the four attributes, a conch, a wheel, a lotus and a mace in all possible permutations.

Architecture

The temple is a three-celled temple and is built on a platform that resembles a star. This platform is raised and has a pillared hall or navaranga in the centre and the three shrines around it. Of the three garbhagrihas, the main one is the one containing the idol of Lakshminarayana and the North and South facing garbhagrihas have the deity's of Sri Venu Gopala Swamy and Sri Lakshmi Narasimha respectively. The entire temple is built out of Soapstone and incorporates the typical Hoysala style architecture. The statue of Sri Venu Gopala Swamy was built more recently. The Sri.Lakshmi Narayana idol is a magnificent piece of art and has tiny intricate detailing that makes it very attractive. Between the Lakshmi Narayana idol and the last idol of Lakshmi Narasimha, there is an idol of Parvathi with her foot on the chest of Mahishasura which has caused it to cave in.

Picture courtesy: commons.wikimedia.org