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Hoysaleswara temple in Halebidu
One cannot help but be amazed at the grandeur on The Hoysala Empire and its capital Dvarasamudra
seeing the magnificent Hoysaleswara temple in was invaded, plundered and destroyed in early
Halebidu. During the early 14th century, Halebidu 14th century by the Delhi Sultanate armies of
was twice sacked and plundered by the Muslim Alauddin Khilji, with Belur and Halebidu becoming
armies of the Delhi Sultanate from northern India the target of plunder and destruction in 1326 CE
and the temple and the capital fell into a state of ruin by another Delhi Sultanate army of Sultan Muham-
and neglect. It is 30 kilometres from Hassan city mad bin Tughlaq. The territory was taken over by
and about 210 kilometres (130 mi) from Bengaluru. the Vijayanagara Empire. The Hoysala style,
states James C. Harle, came to an end in mid 14th
century, when King Ballala III was killed in a war
Hoysaleswara temple, also referred simply as the with the Muslim army led by Malik Kafur.
Halebidu temple, is a 12th-century Hindu temple Dvarasamudra and its temples became ruins, the
dedicated to Shiva. It is the largest monument in capital abandoned and the site became known as
Halebidu, a town in the state of Karnataka, India "Halebidu" (literally, "old camp or capital").About
and the former capital of the Hoysala Empire. The 300 of the original Hoysala Empire temples sur-
temple was built on the banks of a large man-made vive in different states of damage, scattered
lake, and sponsored by King Vishnuvardhana of the around the Halebid region. Of these, states Hardy,
Hoysala Empire. Its construction started around about 70 had been studied to varying degrees of
1121 CE and was complete in 1160 CE. During the detail by 1995.
early 14th century, Halebidu was twice sacked and The Hoysaleswara temple is a Shaivism tradition
plundered by the Muslim armies of the Delhi Sul- monument, yet reverentially includes many
tanate from northern India, and the temple and the themes from Vaishnavism and Shaktism tradition
capital fell into a state of ruin and neglect. It is 30 of Hinduism, as well as images from Jainism. The
kilometres (19 mi) from Hassan city and about 210 Hoysaleswara temple is a twin-temple dedicated
kilometres (130 mi) from Bengaluru.
to Hoysaleswara and Santaleswara Shiva lingas,
named after the masculine and feminine aspects,
both equal and joined at their transept. It has two
Unlike other Hoysala temples that have survived Nandi shrines outside, where each seated Nandi
into the modern age, and despite numerous inscrip- face the respective Shiva linga inside.The temple
tions in the temple premises, the Hoysaleswara includes a smaller sanctum for the Hindu Sun god
Temple lacks a dedication inscription. It is likely lost, Surya. It once had superstructure towers, but no
along with the many other features of the original longer and the temple looks flat. The temple faces
temple. An inscription found about five kilometers east, though the monument is presently visited
from the temple site, near the Kallesvara temple ru- from the north side. Both the main temples and the
ins in Ghattadahalli, states that Ketamalla – officer Nandi shrines are based on a square plan. The
in the employ of king Vishnuvardhana constructed temple was carved from soapstone. It is notable
this temple. It also notes that the king made grant of for its sculptures, intricate reliefs, detailed friezes
lands to support the construction, the operation and as well its history, iconography, inscriptions in
the maintenance of the Shiva temple in Saka 1043, North Indian and South Indian scripts. The temple
or 1121 CE. It was not the only temple built in that artwork provides a pictorial window into the life
era. The inscriptions suggest that the capital con- and culture in the 12th century South India. About
sisted of numerous other temples, both of Hinduism 340 large reliefs depict the Hindu theology and as-
and Jainism traditions, along with stepwells, ponds sociated legends. Numerous smaller friezes nar-
and mantapas (mandapas, public halls) in the vicin- rate Hindu texts such as the Ramayana, the
ity of the large Dorasamudhra lake. Evidence within Mahabharata and the Bhagavata Purana. Some
the temple suggest that the temple was recon- friezes below large reliefs portray its narrative
structed and repaired over its history, sometimes for episodes.
enhancements, sometimes to address structural is-
sue with the towers above it (now missing), and
sometimes after wars with the remains of ruined
temples elsewhere in the region. It is the largest Courtsey Wikipedia
temple built by the Hoysalas that is dedicated to the
Hindu god Shiva in South India.
