It was an unplanned trip to Belur on the way back from our vacation. The sun was smiling brightly above the head and we were just short of dancing on the temple platform. Kids were already showing signs of boredom. The guide whom we had hired was faster than the fastest train in the world and it took their boredom to the next level. Suffice to say that I did not have enough time to make all the pictures that I wanted. Nevertheless, I was bent upon making the best use of the little time and equipment I had in hand. Here are the shots that I managed to click...
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| Main Gopuram of Chennakeshava temple |
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| A view of the temple |
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| Dhwaja stambha in front of the Chennakeshava temple |
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| Kitchen in the south east corner where prasadam is prepared even today. |
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| Mantapam in front of Kappe Channigaraya temple |
The gravity pillar or also known as the deepastambha is an example of the excellence of the architects. It is 42 feet high and weighs 20 tonnes. This pillar is balanced on only three edges and there is enough space between the pillar and the pedestal on the fourth edge to pass a thin paper! Lamps were lit at the top of it during kartheeka deepotsava in the olden days.
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| The gravity pillar |
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| Space between the pillar and the base. |
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| The ubiquitous 'Tulasi katte' in the temple complex |
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| Sala fighting with a lion |
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| Entrance of Chennakeshava temple |
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| Vidya Ganapathi |
Here is the sculpture of Lord Narasimha who split opened Hiranyakashipu's stomach. The expression of the Lord's face and the garland of the daemon's intestine have been beautifully carved out.
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| Lord Narasimha tear opening Hiranyakashipu's stomach with his nails. |
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| Devi killing a daemon |
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| Lord Brahma |
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| Gajasura samhara by lord Shiva |
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| Shiva and Parvathi |
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| Sheshashayana - Vishnu on a bed of snakes. |
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| Vaamana avataara |
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| Goddess Parvathi with Rudraveena in her hand |
Notice the 'platform heels' here ...it is not a patent of our generation ;) ....
.....not even the Sadhana cut ....
Taking dogs for a walk was in vogue those days too! You can see a puppy at the right bottom of the sculpture with a string around its neck and held by a maid.
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First floor gallery
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| Lord Vishnu |
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| Vishnu paada with lotus in the middle |
Most of us have heard the story of Arjuna aiming at fish eye in Mahabharata. Unfortunately, the sculpture depicting this has been spoilt over the years by visitors curious to test the 'saptaswara' that was suppose to have been produced from his bow when stuck.
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Arjuna aiming at fish eye
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| Ravana lifting mount Kailash |
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| Devi wearing a crown of skulls |
Madanikas of Belur... the intricacies of the carvings are jaw droppingly beautiful. 'Darpana Sundari' is one of the famous sculptures of Belur.
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| Darpana sundari - lady with the mirror |
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| Intoxicating beauty |
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| Vishakanya, the poisonous lady. A scorpio is shown in her stomach to denote the same. |
Depicting the kannada saying 'chotALigondu motALu', a maid is getting the thorn stuck to her foot by another maid at the bottom right.
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| A maid at the right bottom getting assisted by her assistant |
A lady trying to wear toe rings with the help of her maid. She is holding the other ring in her right hand and one of her bangles have come down while she has bent her hand.
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| Eve teasing by a monkey. The lady is trying to shoo it away with a tendril |
The sculpture of a man beating a drum drew my attention. The illustration of wearing out of the centre of the drum due to usage is a testimony to the sculptors' skill.
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| A man beating a drum. Observe the black patch at the centre of the drum indicating wear out |
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| Halekannada scripts |
Ornated pillars with varying number of edges carved inside the temple...
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| Carvings on top of the entrance of sanctum sanatorium |
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| Lord Chennakeshava in the garbha gudi dressed up as Mohini |
It was almost noon and hunger pangs added to the woes. I left the place with the thoughts of the marvellous sculptures lingering in my mind.
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