Lakshmi Devi Temple, Doddagaddavalli – The Temple

Lakshmi Devi Temple, Doddagaddavalli – The Temple

The Lakshmi Devi Temple is one of the earliest known temples built in the Hoysala style. The temple does not stand on a jagati (platform), a feature which is common in later Hoysala temples. The temple is enclosed with in a 7-foot-tall stone wall with a pillared dvara mandapa on the southern side. The dvara mandapa is supported by circular lathe turned pillars. The temple is a unique Chatushkuta construction (four shrines and towers).

The main shrine (western shrine) is  facing towards east. It enshrines a 3-foot-tall image of the goddess Lakshmi with an attendant on either side. She is standing in samabhanga posture with four arms. She holds a conch in the upper right hand, a chakra (discuss) in the upper left, a rosary in the lower right and a mace in the lower left. The image is similar to the Kolhapur image in its style and features. Gajalakshmi can be seen on the lintel of the sanctum door.

The eastern shrine enshrines Bhoothanatha Linga in its sanctum. Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya can be seen along with the Linga. Nataraja can be seen on the lintel of the sanctum door. The northern shrine enshrines an image of Goddess Kali in its sanctum. She is found seated on the dead body of a demon. She is eight-armed holding khadga, trishula, gada & arrow on the right and bowl, damaru, bow & noose on the left. The idol has been desecrated by miscreants.

There is a sculpture in the northern wall of her shrine similar to the idol housed in the sanctum. There are two huge nude Bethala sculptures (Bhuta & Preta) in skeletal form as dvarapalas on either side of the entrance of her shrine. Naga Kanya and Visha Kanya can be seen on either side of the sanctum door. Sapta Matrikas can be seen on the lintel of the sanctum door. The southern shrine is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The idol enshrined in the sanctum is missing now.

Yoga Narasimha can be seen on the lintel of the sanctum door. The original shikaras (superstructures) over the sanctum of all the shrines are intact. The shikara over the shrine of Lakshmi follows dravidian style and the shikara over the other shrines follows Kadamba Nagara style. The shikaras over the shrines of Kali, Vishnu and Shiva are undecorated and follows stepped pyramidal with a pile of dented horizontal mouldings with the kalasa on top.

The shikara over the shrine of Lakshmi is well decorated. It is dvitala vimana crowned by square sikhara and stone finial. Each shrines have a vestibule connecting the sanctum to the central mandapa (Navaranga). Each vestibule has a superstructure called sukhanasi. It looks like a shorter extension of the main tower. The sukanasi is a tier lower than the main tower over the shrine. The Hoysala crest (the sculpture of a legendary warrior Sala fighting a lion) is mounted on top of the sukanasi of each shrine.

Three shrines connects directly to the ranga mandapa with nine bays. The fourth shrine is connected to the ranga mandapa via an oblong extension consisting of two bays. The extension has two lateral entrances into the temple. The ranga mandapa is square in plan. The ceiling of the main hall is supported by eighteen lathe-turned pillars. There is a sculpture of Nataraja in a circular panel at the center of the ceiling of the ranga mandapa.

The depiction of ashtadikpalakas (guardian deities of eight directions) can be seen on the eight cardinal directions of the ceiling of the ranga mandapa. There is only one eaves running around the temple where the main towers meet the wall of the shrine. The basement of the shrines have five moldings. Usually, the panels of Hoysala sculptures depicting the gods and goddesses can be seen between the eaves and basement, but it is missing in this temple.

Instead, the exterior is decorated with miniature towers on pilasters (called Aedicula). There is a separate shrine for Lord Bhairava near the southern entrance of the temple. The shrine consists sanctum and vestibule. The sanctum is crowned with its stepped pyramidal shikara and vestibule is crowned with sukanasi with a Hoysala crest on it. There are four minor shrines at the four corners of the temple attached to the compound wall.

Each of these shrines consists of sanctum and vestibule. Each of these shrines are crowned with its stepped pyramidal shikara and vestibules are crowned with sukanasi with a Hoysala crest on it. The temple has nine shrines overall, which is unusual for a Hoysala temple. There is a large pond adjacent to the Lakshmi Devi temple. There are granite steps leading to this pond.