Amritapura
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Amritapura is situated 67 kms north of Chikmagalur town in Chikmagalur District, Karnataka state, India. Located 110 kms from Hassan and 35 Kms from Shimoga on NH 48, Amritapura is known for the splendid Amriteshwara temple. The temple was built in 1196 by Amriteshwara Dandanayaka (commander) under Hoysala Veera Ballala II. Located in the close vicinity of the Bhadra River reservoir, a short distance from Tarikere town, this is a idyllic spot.
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[edit] History
The rise of the Hoysalas to power in the 11th - 12th centuries created many important towns and cities (nagara) along the malnad regions of present day Karnataka. The Hoysalas built many ornate temples in this region and it is not uncommon to find them spaced very short distances from each other.
[edit] Amriteshwara temple
The temple is a fine example of Hoysala workmanship built with a wide open mantapa (hall).[1] Sorrounded by Palm and Coconut farms, the temple still has its original outer wall with interesting, equally spaced circular carvings. The temple has one vimana (shrine), hence it is a ekakuta design[2] and a closed mantapa (hall) connects the shrine to the large open mantapa. A mid sized Hoysala temple, it compares closely with the Viranarayana temple at Belavadi in mantapa structure and size. The open mantapa has 29 bays[3] and the closed mantapa has 9 bays with a side porch that leads to another separate shrine on the south side. The shrine is square in shape and still has the original superstructure (tower) richly adorned with sculptures of Kirtimukhas (demon faces), miniature towers etc. Below the superstructure, the usual panel of Hindu deities is not present. The base of the wall has five mouldings which is a older Hoysala style.[4] The Sukanasi[5] has the original Hoysala emblem of Sala fighting the tiger.[6]
The speciality of the temple are the rows of shining lathe turned pillars that support the ceiling of the mantapa.[7] The mantapa has many deeply domed inner ceiling structures adorned with floral designs. The outer parapet wall of the open mantapa has a total of 140 panels of sculptures depicting the Hindu epics. Unlike in many Hoysala temples where the panels are small and carvings miniature, these panels are large. The Ramayana is sculpted on the south side wall on 70 panels with the story proceeding anti clockwise which is unusual. On the north side wall, all depictions are clockwise, the normal Hoysala style. 25 panels depict the life of Lord Krishna and the remaining 45 panels depict the epic Mahabharata.
Ruvari Mallitamma, the famous Hoysala sculptor and architect started his career here working on the domed ceilings in the main mantapa.[8] The large stone inscription near the porch is an excellent example of medieval Kannada poetry composed by the famous poet Janna.
[edit] See also
Hoysala architecture
Chikmagalur District
[edit] Notes
- ^ Gerard Foekema, A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples, pp 37
- ^ Depending on the number of towers, the temples are classified as ekakuta (one), dvikuta (two), trikuta (three), chatushkuta (four) and panchakuta (five). The last two types are rare. Sometimes a trikuta temple is literally not trikuta as only the central shrine of three shrines has a tower. Gerard Foekema, A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples, pp 25
- ^ A bay is a square or rectangular compartment in the hall, Gerard Foekema, A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples pp 36 pp 93
- ^ In a typical older design that was popular in most of the 12th century Hoysala temples, there is one set of eaves where the tower meets the wall of the shrine. The eaves runs all around the temple. Eaves is a projecting roof overhanging the temple wall. Below the eaves are decorated miniature towers on pilasters. Below these towers are the wall panels of Hindu Gods, Goddesses and their attendants. Below these panels are the 5 mouldings. Gerard Foekema, A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples pp 28
- ^ A tower on top of the vestibule. The vestibule connects the shrine and the mantapa. The sukanasi is called the nose of the superstructure, Gerard Foekema, A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples, pp 22
- ^ According to historians C. Hayavadhana Rao, J. D. M. Derrett, B. R Joshi, Sala was a mytical founder of the empire, A Concise History of Karnataka pp 123, Dr. S.U. Kamath, History of Karnataka, Arthikaje.
- ^ This is a common feature of Western Chalukya-Hoysala temples, A Concise History of Karnataka, pp 117, Dr. S.U. Kamath
- ^ An article Architectural marvel by P.B.Premkumar, Spectrum, Tuesday, January 20, 2004[1]
[edit] References
- Gerard Foekema, A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temples, Abhinav, 1996 ISBN 81-7017-345-0
- Dr. Suryanath U. Kamath, A Concise history of Karnataka from pre-historic times to the present, Jupiter books, 2001, MCC, Bangalore (Reprinted 2002)
