Hoysala Architecture: A Blend of Dravidian and Nagara Style

Pratiksha Hemasagar Sahu

Hoysala Architecture: A Blend of Dravidian and Nagara Style

Hoysala architecture is a blend of Dravidian & Nagara styles of architecture which began in the 11th century. A style different from the other south Indian temple architecture yet being in the south.

Chennakeshava temple Source: Study.com

Have you ever heard of Indian temples with intricate carvings and stellate designs? If not, let's go back to the Hoysala Empire's dominance in the 11th century. Initially situated in Belur, the Hoysala Empire later relocated to Halebidu. The building style known as Hoysala architecture was created in the region now known as Karnataka during the 11th and 14th centuries for Hindu temples. The eminent researcher Adam Hardy categorises Hoysala architecture as a Dravidian architectural trend unique to the Deccan and different from Tamil architecture further south.

The entire tradition dates back around seven centuries. It developed under the Rashtrakuta and Western Chalukya dynasties in the 11th and 12th centuries after starting under the Chalukya Dynasty in the 7th century. Due to their unusual designs, the temples are referred to as Vesara Temple Style.’ A lot is said inscribed on the temple concerning contributions given to the temples and other architectural aspects.

Hindu temples typically started off as modest shrines that housed gods. By the time of the Hoysalas, they had developed into well-designed structures where worshippers looked to transcend their ordinary lives. Both Chola and Chalukya influences may be seen in the Hoysala Architecture. Although some Hoysala temples were also dedicated to the Jain faith, the majority of them were dedicated to Shiva or Vishnu. The Hoysaleshwara Temple, Keshava Temple, and Chennakeshava Temple are the best examples of Hoysala architecture.

The artisans were able to create such intricate designs because they were made of soapstone. The stellate designs and ornamental carvings of the temples distinguish them from other medieval structures. With round pillars and sculpted brackets on top, this architectural style is used to create both open and closed mandapas. Typically, floral patterns and mythological characters adorn the ceilings. Such temples are distinguished by their vimanas, which are ornamented on the inside and kept plain on the outside. Hoysala artisans decorated the top and surface of the pillars, while Chalukya artists left the top unadorned and simply embellished the surface.

Various components of the Hoysala temples are combined to create the entire edifice. The majority of temples have thick, fluting walls with ornate designs and a plain, covered entrance porch supported by lathe-turned pillars. The temples might be constructed on a jagati, a platform that has been raised by about a meter and is used as a circumambulation path around the temple. An additional flight of stairs leads to the open mandapa (open hall) in these temples. Some temples have elephant balustrades on either side that lead down to the mandapa.

In most of the temples, a central pillared hall in the shape of an intricate star is surrounded by a number of shrines. The most notable feature of these temples is their extreme complexity, with so many projecting angles coming from the previously straightforward square temple, their plan starts to resemble a star and is hence known as a stellate plan.

Visitors from all over the world pay well-deserved attention to Hoysala architecture, which is considered the crown jewel of the Hoysala empire. Most of the Hoysala shrines, in contrast to other temples, are still accessible for daily worship today. The majesty of these structures and the piety that went into their construction continue to inspire reverence in the quiet viewer today despite the irreparable damages brought on by time and mercenary human powers.