Brahmesvara Temple, Kikkeri – The Temple

Brahmesvara Temple, Kikkeri – The Temple

This Temple is facing towards east with an entrance arch. The entrance arch has a stucco image of Nandi. The temple is single shrined (Ekakuta). This temple consists of sanctum, antrala, sukanasi, navaranga and porch attached to a Nandi Mandapa. Lord Brahma can be seen on the doorway lintel. Hence the presiding deity came to be called as Brahmesvara. The sanctum houses the presiding deity in the form of Lingam.

The sanctum is connected to navaranga hall by antrala with sukanasi above. The sukanasi is actually a low protrusion of the tower over the shrine, built over the antrala The large domed roof (amalaka), the kalasa over the tower and the Hoysala crest (emblem of the Hoysala warrior stabbing a lion) over the sukanasi are  typical of  Hoysala temple architecture. 

Navaranga Hall has four central pillars supporting its ceiling. These pillars are bell shaped and extensively decorated with intricate carvings These four pillars houses Madanikas Idols (also called Salabhanjika, refers to the sculpture of a woman, displaying stylized feminine features). Each pillar has the provision to hold four Madanikas Idols.

There are currently only eight idols are present in the pillars. Other idols were lost or stolen. There is one Madanika idol, holding the Damaruka (musical instrument used by Lord Shiva while dancing) deserves special mention. The left hand of the drummer is holding the Damaruka. She is holding it to control the rhythm of the beatings. The fingers are carved between the thread which is used to control the stiffness of the skin.

The three strings holding the drum in place is very slender is an excellent example of Hoysala master piece. The navaranga central ceiling has a carved stone block having nine divisions. The central three divisions show Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. Musicians and dancers are depicted in other divisions. There is a four feet tall idol of Lord Shiva in one of the niches of the navaranga (hall).

Life size Dvarapalas guards the entrance of Navaranga. Nandi and Surya Narayana can be seen facing the sanctum. The entrance is provided via porch from north and south. The interior of the temple has been widened beyond its base by making the outer walls bulge out in a convex shape. There is a shrine for Mother Parvathy on the right side of the sanctum. This might be later period construction.

The outside walls contains idols of Dashavatara, Lord Shiva with his consort Parvathy, Lord Vishnu with his consort Lakshmi, Lord Brahma with his consort Saraswathi, Bhairavi, Gajantaka, Nataraja, Ganesha and Mahishasuramardhini. Each of these idols are housed under various kind of gopuras like Bhumija, Vesara, Dravida and Kalinga style of Gopuras around the temple. The idol of Varaha carrying Lakshmi on his left shoulder is  quite sculpture seen in this Temple.

A foreigner, probably Portuguese, is also present in one of the panel. There is a small temple pond situated on the north east corner of the temple. There is a relief explaining the story of a devotee of Lord Shiva met his heroic death in a battle being taken to Kailasha by Bhootha Ganas in a palanquin, on the steps of the temple pond. There is a shrine for Kala Bhairava next to the Temple pond. The idol shows excellent craftsmanship of Hoysalas. The idol holds an axe and bow and accompanied by his dog vehicle.

The temple's decorative features can be said to belong to much earlier period prevalent even before the Hoysala times. In this type of decoration, below the superstructure (tower), an eaves that projects about half a meter runs all around the temple. Below the eaves are decorative miniature towers on pilasters. The large wall images of deities and their attendants are placed below these decorative towers. Below these images is the base of the wall which comprises five different horizontal moldings, one of which is a row of blocks.

There is an interesting sculpture of both Lion and Elephant can be seen on the right-hand side of Sukanasi. This sculpture is carved in such a way to depict both animals. If the sculpture is viewed from north towards south direction, it appears as elephant and if it is viewed from east to west direction, it appears as lion.