Brahmeshvara Temple, Kikkeri


The Brahmeshvara temple is a fine specimen of 12th century Hoysala architecture and is located in the town of Kikkeri of Mandya district in Karnataka state, India. It is only 10 km from the historically important town of Shravanabelagola. The temple was built in 1171 AD by a wealthy lady called Bommare Nayakiti during the rule of Hoysala King Narasimha I. This temple is a protected monument under the Karnataka state division of the Archaeological Survey of India.

Architecture

The design of the temple is unique. the interior of the temple has been widened beyond its base by making the outer walls bulge out in a convex shape. This is a ekakuta construction. There is a four feet tall image of the Hindu god Shiva in one of the niches of the navaranga. The madanika figures carved on the capitals of the pillars of the hall are works of fine art.
The vimana has a well executed, highly decorative and intact tower. The vestibule which connects the cella to the hall has a sukhanasi which is actually a low protrusion of the tower over the shrine, built over the vestibule. Other standard features in a Hoysala temple are the large domed roof over the tower, which is also the largest sculptural piece in a Hoysala temple and whose shape usually follows that of the shrine ; the kalasa on top of it ; and the Hoysala crest over the sukhanasi.
The temple's decorative features can be said to belong to the "old kind" prevalent even before the Hoysala times. In this type of decoration, below the superstructure, an eaves that projects about half a meter runs all around the temple. Below the eaves are decorative miniature towers on pilasters. The large wall images of deities and their attendants are placed below these decorative towers. Below these images is the base of the wall which comprises five different horizontal moldings, one of which is a row of blocks.

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