HOYSALA TEMPLES AND SCULPTURES
About the Book
The Hoysalas ruled for about 350 years from circa 1000 to 1346 A.D., starting from Soveyur, now called Angadi in Mudigrere taluk of Chikkamagalur District and expanding over a major portion of South India. In the beginning, they acknowledged the serenity of the Chalukyas of Kalyana but became dependent in the reign of Vishnuvardhana with new capital at Dorasamudra, now represented by Halebidu in the Hassan district in Karnataka The Hoysala rulers constructed more than hundreds of temples and basis, throughout their empire from Eka-Kuta to PanchaKuta temples. The Hoysala rulers are well known for their military conquests and their patronage of cultural activities. The erection of a large number of temples and basis is a cue to the enthusiasm of the rulers, the queens, the generals, the ministers, officials and merchants etc. They vied with one another in extending support for constructional activities through the Empire. Most temples and bases are built in schist, and few are built of granite stone. The Hoysala temple consists of a garbhagriha, an antarala or sukhanasi, a navaranga or sabha mandapa or pillared hall, and an ardhamandapa or a porch, in general.
On plan, the Hoysala temples fall into five clear-cut categories, and minor variations can be observed within each category. The five Eka-Kuta or single garbhagriha or cell; Dvi-Kuta or twin Kuta or twin-celled temple; Tri-Kuta or three-celled temple; Chatus-Kuta or four-celled temples and Pancha-Kuta or five-celled temples.
Chapters I and II deal with Introduction and Historical Perspective Chapter III Deals with Temple in General and Some Selected Hoysala Temples from Karnataka. Chapters IV and V detail Saiva and Vaishnava Sculptures from the Temples. Chapter VI and VII deals with Jaina Sculptures and Minor Divinities from the Monuments and last Chapter VIII dealt with the Conclusion with sum up the complete chapters.