Chennakeshava Temple, Hullekere – The Temple

Chennakeshava Temple, Hullekere – The Temple

This Temple is facing towards east with a front porch supported by 6 circular lathe turned pillars. It follows ekakuta style (single shrine with a tower). The temple is surrounded by a prakara wall with a  roof supported by pillars, forming a cloister. The temple consists of sanctum, antrala (vestibule), navaranga and mukha mandapa (entrance porch).

There are two sculptures of standing elephants in the front of mukha mandapa. There is a big inscription stone slab near mukha mandapa. The mukha mandapa is supported by two half pillars & two pilasters and parapets on either side. The decor on the parapet walls, ceiling, lintel over the entrance and the pillars is noteworthy.

The navaranga is square on plan. The ceiling of the navaranga is supported by four lathe turned pillars which divide the ceiling into nine decorated bays. The vestibule has a superstructure called sukhanasi. It looks like a shorter extension of the main tower. The Hoysala emblem of a royal warrior (Sala, the founder of the empire) stabbing a lion can be seen over the sukanasi.

The sanctum enshrines an idol of Kesava standing on a Garuda pitha. The door jamb here is richly carved with an image of Gajalakshmi on its lintel. The shikara over the sanctum is of three tiers and is crowned with kalasa. The tower (shikara) is divided into decorative tiers with each tier diminishing in height and culminating in an umbrella like structure. The top of the shikara is crowned with the kalasha, a decorative water-pot like structure which stands on a large ornate dome.

This dome is the largest piece of sculpture in the temple and can be 2m x 2m in size. The eaves runs around the sanctum where the superstructure meets the wall of the shrine. The exterior walls are decorated with 24 forms of Lord Vishnu attended by female attendants on either sides, kirtimukhas, aediculas (miniature decorative towers), deities in relief, geometric patterns and half pilasters.