Relief depicting Lakshminarayana carved into a section of the ceiling
Lakshminarayana carved on a section of the ceiling
The image shows one of the sections of the ceiling in the navaraga of the Kappe Chennigaraya Temple. A sculptural relief depicting Lakshminarayana – a form of Vishnu presented with his consort Lakshmi – is at the center surrounded by finely carved geometrical patterns. As you can see, the ceiling is recessed with a square-shaped niche and is carved with geometrical patterns at different levels of the niche.
Note that Lakshminarayana is a combination of two names, Lakshmi and Narayana. Narayana is another name of Vishnu, and it means one who dwells on the water. In Sanskrit, Nara means water and Ayana means dwelling. According to Hindu mythology, Vishnu lives on the cosmic ocean.
Commissioned by Shantala Devi, the pattada rani (principal queen consort) of King Vishnuvardana, the builder of the main Chennakeshava Temple, the construction of the Kappe Chennigaraya Temple began at the same time as the main temple, i.e., in 1117 CE.
Kappe Chennigaraya Images
– East Facade
– North Facade
– Navaranga Pillars
– Dance Floor
– Venugopala Standing in the South Garbhagriha
– Ugra Narasimha Carved on the Lintel of the South Garbhagriha Door
– Outer Wall around the West Garbhagriha
Related Pages
– Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Bracket Figures
– Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Navaranga
– Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Garbhagriha Outer Wall
– Somanathapura Keshava Temple – A Masterpiece of Hoysala Temple Art
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