Hoysaleswara Temple

Hoysaleswara Temple

Hoysaleswara Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is among the largest of its kind in South India. Named after Vishnuvardhana Hoysaleswara, the presiding Hoysala ruler in those times, work began on this temple during the 12th century but despite 86 years of labour, the temple still remained incomplete. The Hoysaleswara Temple has two shrines, one dedicated to Hoysaleswara and another for Shantaleswara (named after Shantala Devi, queen of King Vishnuvardhana). There is one more shrine here - a 7 ft tall image of the Sun God. The halls are guarded by a huge figure of Nandi, the attendant bull of Lord Shiva. Hoysaleswara Temple is particularly known for its wall sculptures that depict scenes from the Hindu mythology, animal, bird forms and Shilabalikas or dancing figures. Opening with an image of dancing Ganesha on the left hand side of the south entrance, the series ends with a different image of Ganesha on the right hand side of the north entrance. The whole collection has not less than 240 images and no two sculptures are the same.