Chennakesava Temple, Honnavara, Karnataka

Chennakesava Temple, Honnavara, Karnataka

Chennakesava Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Honnavara Village in Hassan Taluk in Hassan District in the Indian state of Karnataka. This temple is a protected monument under the Karnataka state division of the Archaeological Survey of India.

History

This temple was built by Mahapradhana Lakshmayya Heggade in 1149 CE during the reign of Hoysala King Narasimha 1. The inscription found in front of the temple records that the temple was consecrated on Saturday, the thirteenth (Trayodashi) day of the month of Magha in Vibhava Samvatsara (1149 CE). It also records the exploits of Mahapradhana Lakshmayya Heggade in dealing with the enemies of the Hoysala kingdom and paving the way for the ascension of Narasimha I to the throne. The inscription further records the land grant made to this temple and the warning to those who try to encroach the temple lands would be born as worms on the earth for more than 60,000 years.

The Temple

This temple is facing towards east and built in the Hoysala style of architecture. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antrala, navaranga and mukha mandapa. The mukha mandapa is supported by four lathe turned pillars. The navaranga (closed hall) is supported by four polished lathe turned pillars. The four central pillars divide the hall into nine equal bays (compartments) and nine decorated ceilings. The ceiling of the navaranga has carvings of the ashtadikpalakas.

The sanctum enshrines an image of Prasanna Chenna Kesava. The tower over the sanctum and the antrala are intact and highly decorative. The tower over the sanctum is crowned with kalasa on top and is of five tiers. The antrala 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 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. Friezes of Hindu deities and their attendants can be seen below the decorative towers. Some of them are Kesava, Narayana, Madhava, Vishnu, Trivikrama, Vamana, Sridhara, Hrishika, Padmanabha, Damodara, Sankarshana, Vasudeva, Aniruddha, Purushottama, Narasimha, Janardana, Varaha, Manmatha, Venugopala, Govardhanadhari etc.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 7 Kms from Dudda, 7.5 Kms from Dudda Halt Railway Station, 8 Kms from Kandali, 19 Kms from Hassan, 29 Kms from Halebeedu, 30 Kms from Arasikere, 193 Kms from Bengaluru and 209 Kms from Bengaluru Airport. The temple is situated at about 7 Kms to the north of Dudda on Hassan to Arasikere route.

Location