There are five types of temple architecture. Number of sanctums can be identified by the number of shikaras. Eka koota, has one sanctum (one...
- Eka koota, has one sanctum (one shikara).
- Dwi Koota, has two sanctum (two shikaras).
- Thry Koota, has three sanctum (three shikaras).
- Chathush Koota, has four sanctum (four shikaras).
- Pancha koota, has five sanctum (five shikaras).
Stellar shape
Famous for: intricate carvings, possible due to use of softer black stone.
Shilpi / Artisans: Jakana Acharya, Dasoja, Nadoja, Mannoja, Siddoja, Mallikamta, Dakkana Acharya.
Hassana district is the cradle of Hoysala temples. Belur, Halebidu, Somnathapura, Doddagaddavalli, Govindapura.
Vijaya Narayana (Chennakeshava) Temple, Belur
Eka koota type of temple, as it has one sanctums gharbha-griha/gudi. It is a vaishnava temple, Chennakeshava (meaning. good looking Vishnu), also called Vijayanarayana temple. It is built as a memory of victory over Cholas by King.Vishnuvardhana.
Adornments: It is embodied with various scupltures.
- Narasimha statue on the temple wall. It portrays the slaying of the demon Hiranya Kashapu.
- Darpana sundari looking into the mirror.
- Hoy Sala scultpure, Sala slaying a tiger/lion.
- Garuda scultpure on the stamba.
- Shikara is missing, as it has been lost over the period of time.
Halebidu Temple (originally named Dwara Samudra)
Toddy liqour made of Baine (fish tail palm), Echalu (dates palm), and Tengu (coconut palm).
Dwi koota type of temple, as it has two sanctums / gharbha-griha/gudi. It is a shaiva temple, Hoysaleshwara
Adornments: It is embodied with various sculptures/idols.
- Dahsakanta Raavana lifting the kailasa parvatha.
- Natya Ganapati
- Darpana sundari looking into the mirror and correcting/applying kumkum.
- Ganesha sculpture.
Somanathapura Temple
Thry koota type of temple, as it has three sanctums / gharbha-griha/gudi. It is a vaishnava temple, Keshava. Here all three shikaras are intact and made out of stone.
Adornments: It is embodied with various sculptures/idols.
- Keshava idol. (Vishnu) in one of the gharbha gudi.
- Vishnu sitting on adishesha (engraved)
- Yoga Lakshmi narasimha (engraved)
- Varaha sculpture on the outside the temple complex.
- Venugopala idol in one of the gharbha gudi.
- Jalardhana idol in one of the gharbha gudi.
Lakshmi Temple at Doddagaddavalli
Chathush koota type of temple, as it has four sanctums / gharbha-griha/gudi. It is a vaishnava temple, Keshava. Here all four shikaras are intact and made out of stone.
Adornments: It is embodied with various sculptures/idols.
- Vetala on both sides of the entrance is the highlight of this temple.
- Gaja lakshmi (engraved)
- Lakshmi idol in one of the gharbha gudi.
- Shiva linga in one of the gharbha gudi.
- Vishnu sculpture in the temple wall.
Pancha Lingeshwara Temple at Govindanahalli
Pancha koota type of temple, as it has five sanctums / gharbha-griha/gudi. It is a shaiva temple, of Shiva. Here all five shikaras are intact and made out of stone.
Adornments: It is embodied with various sculptures/idols.
- All the five sanctums are inline along north-south and all of them facing east.
- Every sanctums have their own Nandi sculptures on each of the gharbha-griha.
- It has a sculpture of 9 devatas carved out of a single stone.
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