Belur Chennakeshava Temple: Main Entrance

Main entrance and the facade of the Chennakeshava Temple in Belur,

Main entrance
The Chennakeshava Temple is built on a star-shaped four feet high platform called Jagati. The floor of the temple is elevated, so the approach to the door is through two flights of steps. The first set of steps is from the ground to the platform (not visible), and the second is from the platform to the door. The flights of steps are flanked by four mini shrines, two on the floor and two on the platform.

On each side of the main door, there is a narrative sculpture depicting the story of the Hoysala lānchana (emblem), based on an inscription attributed to King Vishnuvardhana and is about the founding of the Hoysala dynasty.

The doorway leads to the front portion of the temple, generally known as the Navaranga. The facade of the temple at the main entrance is ornate with a variety of sculptures and sculptural reliefs. As you can see from the image, the door jambs and the lintel are ornate with beautifully artwork. Carved into the bottom part of the left door jamb is Manmatha and the right door jamb is his wife Rathi. Carved into the pediment, which is above the door, is a beautiful relief of Narasimha, one of the avatars of Vishnu, carried by his vahana (vehicle), Garuda. This pediment is enclosed by a creeper disgorged by the Makaras sitting atop the beautifully crafted pilasters that are flanking the doorway. Vishnu’s vahana, Garuda, is on the roof flanked by two female figures.

Mounted on the pillars near the top but just below the eaves are the beautifully carved sculptures, popularly known as the bracket figures. Check the Bracket Figures page for more info. The sculptural relief on the left jālandhara (perforated stone window) depicts the court of King Vishnuvardhana, and the relief on the right jālandhara depicts the court of King Veera Ballala II.

Located 150 miles west of Bengaluru in southern India, the Belur Chennakeshava Temple is a magnificent temple dedicated to Vishnu. King Vishnuvardhana of the Hoysala dynasty commissioned the temple in 1167 CE to commemorate his victory over the Cholas at Talakadu. After his death, his successors – Narasimha I and Veera Ballala II – continued the work, and it took 103 years to complete it.

Related Images
– South Entrance
– North Entrance
– Court of Hoysala King Vishnuvardana, the builder of the Belur Chennakeshava Temple
– Court of Hoysala King Vira Ballala II
– Hoysala emblem on the right side of the main entrance
– Hoysala emblem on the left side of the main entrance

Bracket Figures: Sculptures mounted below the eaves
– Shilābālikes: Female Bracket Figures
— Darpana Sundari, Sukha Bhashini, Nātya Sundari, Gāna Sundari, Kesha Sundari, Tribhangi, Nagna Sundari, Kapāla Durga, Koravanji, Nātya Mohini, Betegārthi
– Male Bracket Figures
— Flute playing male musician
— Narthaka – Davane playing male dancer
— Davane playing male musician