Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Javagal – The Temple

Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Javagal – The Temple

The temple is facing towards east with a mahadvara. The temple stands on a raised platform (jagati), a feature common to many Hoysala temples. The platform provides ample space for the devotess to circumbulate the temple. The temple is constructed in trikutachala style, consisting of three shrines, one each on north, south and west.

The western shrine houses Sridhara, northern shrine houses Lakshmi Narasimha and southern shrine houses Venugopala. The shrine housing Lakshmi Narasimha is given prominence here. The western shrine connects to the navaranga via vestibule while the other two shrines connects directly to the navaranga.

The navaranga is preceded by an open mukha mandapa. All the three shrines are square in plan. The central shrine (western shrine) is the most prominent one. This shrine has an antrala (vestibule) that connects the shrine to the navaranga. The tower over the central shrine and the vestibule are intact and highly decorative.

The kalasa on top of the tower is replaced with metallic pinnacle at later stage. The vestibule has a superstructure called sukhanasi. It looks like a shorter extension of the main tower. The Hoysala crest (emblem of the Sala stabbing a lion) over the sukhanasi is missing. The lateral shrines are without towers and sukanasis.

The lower part of the shrines (below the roof) have five projections per side, these projections being visible on three sides in the case of the central shrine but only on one side in the case of the lateral shrines. The eaves runs around the sanctum where the superstructure meets the wall of the shrine. The eaves projects about half a meter from the wall. Miniature decorative towers can be seen below this eaves.

Second eves can be seen below this decorative towers. Friezes of Hindu deities and their attendants can be seen below the second eaves. There are about 140 intricately carved sculptures. Notable among them are Rama, Lakshmana, Badri Narayan, Anandha Padmanaba, Ganesha, Garuda carrying Vishnu & his consort, Kaliya Mardana and Narasimha slaying Hiranyakasipu.

A set of six moldings can be seen below the frieze which forms the base of the wall. The first horizontal molding from the jagati contains procession of elephants, second contains horsemen, foliage on the third, depictions from the Hindu epics and puranic scenes in the fourth, friezes of yalis in the fifth and friezes of swans in the sixth.