Chennakeshava Temple, Belur –
History
Belur
is called as Beluhur, Velur or Velapura in ancient inscriptions and medieval era texts. Belur was the
early capital of the Hoysala Kings. Belur was even called as Bhuloka Vaikuntha
(earthly abode of Lord Vishnu) and Dakshina Varanasi (Southern
Varanasi) in later inscriptions. This
temple was constructed in 1117 CE by King Vishnuvardhana of the Hoysala
Dynasty as per an inscription found on the east wall near the north entrance of
the main mandapa of the
temple.
He commissioned the
temple after an important military victory in 1116 CE. The
temple was built over three generations and took 103 years to finish. The
temple of Viranarayana to the west of the
main Kesava temple was built around the 12th century CE. The
Chennigaraya temple was built concurrently along with the
main temple by the queen of King Vishnuvardhana. King Narasimha I of
Hoysala dynasty made grants to the
temple for its maintenance and operation.
Hoysala King Veera Ballala II in
1175 CE constructed the kitchen and grain storage in the southeast corner. A
stepped pond called Vasudeva Tirtha towards the north west of the
main temple, was excavated by Veera Ballala II (1173–1220 CE). The compound
wall along with its gateway was constructed by Somayya Dandanayaka during the
rule of Veera Ballala III (1292–1343). He also covered the open
mandapa with perforated stone screens.
The Hoysala Empire and its
capital was invaded, plundered and destroyed in the early 14th century
by Malik Kafur, a commander of the Delhi Sultanate ruler Alauddin
Khalji. The
temple was raided, damaged and its gateway was burnt down in a raid by a
Muslim general Salar and his army working for Muhammed bin Tughlaq (1324-1351).
The original tower above the sanctum was damaged and repaired in 1387 CE by
Mudappa, a Minister under Vijayanagara King Harihara II and a metal kalasa or
finial was fixed.
The front portion was a later
addition built by the Dalavayi family of Kalale. Shrines for Saumya Nayaki, Aandal,
Rama and Narasimha were added in the temple complex during Vijayanagar period. Gunda,
a general of Harihara II, rebuilt the rajagopura in 1397 CE. Granite lamp posts
and Vyala mandapa were built in 1414 CE and Yagasala was built in 1484 CE.
The
temple premises were again damaged after the destruction of Vijayanagara Empire
by a coalition of Sultanates. The first repairs were done in 1709, followed by
additions in 1717 and 1736. The
temple was repaired in 1774 by an officer of Hyder Ali during a
period when Hyder Ali was the de facto ruler on behalf of the Wadiyar dynasty. The
collapsing tower above the sanctum was removed to save the lower levels in late
19th century and never replaced.
The parts of the
temple was cleaned and restored with financing by the Mysore government and
grants by the Wadiyar dynasty in 1935. The Chennigaraya shrine was rebuilt, new
images of Ramanuja and Garuda added along with many other facility improvements
and repairs to the
complex in the mid of 20th century CE. There are about 118
inscriptions dated between 12th century CE to the 18th
century CE in the
temple complex.
These inscriptions records the
history of the
temple & the region, the gifts & grants made to this temple and
renovations carried out in the
temple. The
Belur temple complex along with the nearby Hindu and Jain
Temples at Halebidu have been proposed to be listed under UNESCO
World Heritage Sites. Belur also has a samadhi believed to be of Raghavanka,
the celebrated Kannada poet of the 13th century.
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