Sri Chennakeshava Temple, Belur

The Chennakesava Temple, (Kannada: ಶ್ರೀ ಚೆನ್ನಕೇಶವ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ)
originally called Vijayanarayana Temple (Kannada: ವಿಜಯನಾರಾಯಣ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ), is on the banks of the Yagachi River in Belur. Belur, which was an early Hoysala capital is in the Hassan district of Karnataka state, India. It is 40 km from Hassan city and 220 km from Bangalore. Chennakesava is a form of the Hindu god Vishnu. Belur is well known for its marvelous temples built during the rule of the Hoysala dynasty.
The temple was commissioned by King Vishnuvardhana in 1117 AD. Sculptors are divided about the reasons for the construction of the temple. The main attraction in Belur is the Chennakeshava temple complex which contains the Chennakesava Temple as the main temple, surrounded by the Kappe Chennigraya temple built by Shantaladevi, queen of king Vishnuvardhana. The temple is about one hundred feet high and has a magnificent gateway tower. There are many subsidiary shrines around the main temple. They conceived their shrines as star-shaped structures and not the usual cubical form.
There are two more shrines here that are still in use by devotees and there is a Pushkarni or stepped well to the right side of the main entrance. The Dravidian style rayagopuram at the entrance which was a later addition by the Vijayanagar kings, who considered this deity as one of their Kuladevata or family god. It took 103 years to complete and Vishnuvardhana's grandson Veera Ballala II completed the task. The facade of the temple is filled with intricate sculptures and friezes with no portion left blank. The intricate workmanship includes elephants, lions, horses, episodes from the Great Indian epics, and sensuous dancers (Shilabalikas). Inside the temple are a number of ornate pillars. Darpana Sundari (Lady with the mirror) carved on walls of Belur Temple is one of major attractions in the complex.
The temple is a holy house for sculptures showcasing innumerable variety of ornaments, the doorways, the ceilings, the birds, the animals, dancers and other figures are fully decorated as if they are full of life and vigour with variety of actions and movements.
Stories from the Puranas, Upanishads and other stories from epics have been carved in the most authentic way. The Ramayana and the Mahabharata also have been included .The bracketed figurines called the Madanikas or celestial nymphs are the highlight of the temple's magnificent architecture. The Madanikas are said to be inspired by the beautiful Queen Shantaladevi, epitomizing the ideal feminine form. There are about 48 pillars of various sizes, shapes and designs, bearing testimony to remarkable artistry.
Inside, even in the darkness, you can see the shining pillars, each unique in its own splendor. The most popular being, the Narasimha pillar in the Navaranga, unique in its filigreed splendor. It is said to have revolved on its ball bearings once.

[@himanshu2093]

अमरशिल्पी जकनाचार्य द्वारा निर्मित अद्भुत ,आश्चर्य । जय कर्नाटका ।

[@umamahesh6202]

Umamaheshwaraiah , h, s, belur, neharu, nagar, super, tempel

[@lostworld9607]

had visited during college tour. It was great place but we could stay there only for around 45 minutes. want to go again.

[@shamlimbore9406]

Apratim,,,,,,,

[@harishsreebalanr4454]

this place is the shooting spot of manasa palakave,kila kila navve ,sollamale,etc..... best place to visit....

[@sonaramsinku7431]

Beautiful temple

[@kyunghikim6730]

Lugar lindo.

[@akshaychaturvedi5997]

gorgeous temple

[@ramakrishnak7053]

Channakeshava temple in Belyre built by horses,it is another 915 years back built,Archiolagy department is maintaining ,but not maintaing properly ..summer started now,people are coming from far distances,perticularly,walking out side is very difficult to move on stone slabs ,since stone slabs out dide due to sun shade and hot not possible to walk,therfore it is requested to concerned archeology department to provide sufficient coir mats around building out side.Perticularly ,old aged people and children are suffering very much.

[@jamunagr6937]

Nice video

[@sandeepjm803]

I proud to be a hassan lvuuuu

[@rajehkumar5050]

good

[@channakeshavasunil483]

Swamy Sri keshava kapadu tandee

[@happylife522]

Nama uru beluru entha chanda entha andha

[@varunvarunvarunvarun7998]

My home Gord

[@sahajization]

108 years to build? I'm not sure... Would have taken just 5 years to bulid it but if they say it was built in 5 years, immediately the next question which people would ask is "Then what kind of tools & machinery were involved to build it?"
Western archeologists & historians want u to believe that there were no machines involved & all the temples were only bulit by hard labour using chisel & hammers... There should have been some sophisticated mahines involved to build our temples with such intrinsic designs....

[@shreekrishna3693]

Yaa. And see Praveen mohan CZcams channel
He explains same thing

[@sachiraj1049]

Naamma Hassan.in.karnataka

[@chakradhard2175]

Home god, interested to visit....j.c.k.s

[@bishalthadamagar8623]

Bunch of fools everywhere