Saumyakeshava Temple, Nagamangala – The Temple

Saumyakeshava Temple, Nagamangala – The Temple

This Temple is facing towards east with seven tiered Rajagopuram. The Temple is enclosed by compound walls on all sides. The temple exhibits the nagara features (northern Indian influence) seen in a few other Hoysala temples such as in the Sadasiva Temple, Nuggehalli. It stands on a raised platform called jagati and is constructed with Soap stone material. The temple with its various parts is standing on a raised platform.

The platform is of irregular shape due to various additions during different periods. The Shrine is stellar in plan, however with flattened on its west, south and north sides. The temple is three shrined (Trikuta Chala), has a garbhagriha (sanctum), and a vestibule (antarala) that connects the sanctum to the a closed mandapa (inner hall, navaranga) which opens into a large pillared gathering hall (Maha Mandapa).

The closed hall has two lateral shrines, one in the north and the other in the south.  The northern shrine houses an idol of Lakshmi Narasimha sitting on a five-headed snake and the Southern shrine houses an idol of Venugopala along with Rukmini and Satyabhama. The roof of the closed mantapa is supported by lathe turned pillars, a standard feature in Hoysala constructions. 

These pillars divide the ceiling into bays (four central pillars create 9 bays in the closed hall) that are exceptionally well treated. The large hall opens onto the platform to the East meant for circumbulating the shrine. The outer wall of the shrine and the large hall are single pilastered turreted walls. Dvarapalas can be found at the entrance of Antrala. The Sanctum is square in plan.

Presiding Deity is called as Saumya Kesava. He is housed in the sanctum. He is a six feet tall image of Keshava, a form of Lord Vishnu, stands on a garuda (eagle) pedestal. He is in standing posture with his consorts Bhoo Devi and Neela Devi.  He holds shanku (conch) in his right upper hand and chakra (the wheel) in left upper hand, padma (lotus) in his right lower hand and Gadha (his weapon) in his left lower hand. 

Normally  shanku  is seen in left hand  and chakra in right hand but in this temple they are changed. A prabhavali can be seen behind him displays ten incarnations of Vishnu. The tower over the shrine (shikhara) is plain without the typical ornamentation giving the temple as a whole an austere look.  There is a Garuda pillar situated opposite to the entrance of Maha Mandapa.

This tall granite pillar has a square base topped with a tapering octagonal shaft. Garuda on west, Hanuman on north, Tripundara on east and a lion on south are depicted on the sides of the square base. It is about 55 feet high. A pulley system was used to light the lamp atop it. This system is still in use. Mother is called as Saumyanayaki. She is housed in a separate shrine, situated in the prakaram.

There is a raised platform called Bhuvaneswari Mantapa at the centre of Navaranga. The roof of this Mandapa is the main attraction in this temple. A lotus bud (which also looks like a conch) hangs down from the well carved roof with a snake (Adisesha) entwined around it. 108 conch motifs surrounds this sculpture. This is the only place where Adisesha can be seen sitting on top of Mandapa. He is sitting in Mandala Akara on top of Mandapa. He is sitting on a big Shanka.

It appears as if Adisesha is placed on heap of 108 Shanka. It is designed like a mandala and the town Nagamangala gets its name from this unique sculpture. The head of the snake represents Raahu and the tail represents Ketu and those who are affected by these according to their horoscope offer prayers to Saumyakeshava by standing beneath this sculpture. There are many shrines attached to the inner side of the prakara wall.