Overview The temple is a highly ornate example of
Hoysala architecture. The temple plan is that of a
trikuta (three shrined), though only the middle one has a superstructure (tower or
shikhara) and a
sukhanasi (nose or tower over the
vestibule). The three shrines are connected by a common hall (
mantapa) which is unique in that it mixes characteristics of an open and a closed hall. The lateral shrines are connected directly to the hall while the middle shrine has a vestibule that connects the sanctum (cella or
vimana) to the hall. Since the lateral shrines have no tower over them and are directly connected to the hall without a vestibule and its corresponding tower like projection, they do not appear like shrines from the outside. Rather, they are absorbed into the walls of the hall. The central shrine on the contrary is highly visible because of its tower and the
sukhanasi that projects prominently from the tower. The tower over the central shrine and the vestibule (
sukhanasi or nose) are intact and highly decorative. The other standard features of a Hoysala temple; the large domed roof over the tower (called "helmet" or
amalaka), the
kalasa on top of it (the decorative water-pot at the apex of the helmet) and the Hoysala crest (emblem of the Hoysala warrior stabbing a lion) over the
sukhanasi are all intact, adding to the decorative look. The dome is actually a heavy, well sculptured "helmet" over the tower and is the largest piece of sculpture in the temple (2x2 meters). Its shape usually follows that of the shrine and hence can be either square or star shaped. In the "new kind" of decorative articulation, the first heavy eaves runs below the superstructure and all around the temple with a projection of about half a meter. The second eaves runs around the temple about a meter below the first. Between the two eaves are the miniature decorative towers (
Aedicula) on
pilasters. Below the second eaves are the wall panel of images of Hindu
deities and their attendants in
relief. Below this, at the base are the six equal width rectangular
moldings (
frieze). Starting from the top, the friezes depict
hansa (birds) in the first frieze,
makara (aquatic monsters) in the second (though often interrupted with
kirtimukhas in this temple), epics and other stories in the third (which in this case is from the Hindu epic
Ramayana, the
Mahabharata, and stories of
Krishna), lions in the fourth (instead of the more commonly seen leafy scrolls), horses in the fifth and elephants at the bottom. At the entrance to the hall are elephant balustrades. Notable among the wall panel sculptures and depicting scenes from the epics and puranic stories are the 16-handed Shiva dancing on the head of a demon called Andhakasura, dancing images of a 22-armed
Durga and
Saraswati, King
Ravana lifting Mount
Kailash, the
Pandava prince
Arjuna shooting the fish target, and
Draupadi rushing forth with garland, and the slaying of the demon Gajasura. ==Gallery==