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stellate (star-shaped plan)Kedareshwara_Temple,_Halebidu
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| Kedareshwara Temple, Halebidu KA upload.wikimedia.org |
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| stellate (star-shaped plan)wikimedia.org Kedareshwara Temple, Halebidu |
Sri.Kedareshwara Temple at Halebeedu in the Hassan district of Karnataka close to the well known Hoysaleshwara Temple, is a beautiful place of worship built in Hoysala architecture. The constriction material is mainly soap stone which was locally mined. This kind of rock is a soft one unlike granite or basalt, intricate and imaginative carvings can be achieved by skilled stone masons.
Constructed by Hoysala King Veera Ballala II (r. 1173–1220 A.D.) and his Queen Ketaladevi, the main deity of this temple god Shiva; deity goes by the Kedareshwara.
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| Kedareshwara Temple,Halebidu KA upload.wikimedia.org |
Standing on a 5 to 6 foot platform (jagatti), the interior of the temple can be reached through a flight of steps. There are four Star shaped pillars on either side of entrance towards Navaranga, What is surprising is in the temple built by the Hoysala dynasty, for unknown reasons there is no pradakshinapath (prakara for circumambulation) round the sanctum. However, there is enough space available for the people walk around the garbagriha, a prayer ritual every Hindu does in the temple.
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| Kedareshwara_Temple,_Halebidu KAgotirupati.com |
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| Kedareshwara_Temple,_Halebidu KA gotirupati.com |
Above image: Kedareshwara_Temple, Halebidu Hassan district, Karnataka. Base of the platform - the walls are adorned with friezes in relief that depict animals and episodes from the Hindu epics............
The base of the wall (adhisthana) around the common hall and the two lateral shrines around the temple on the platform is replete with moldings, each of which is adorned with friezes in relief that depict animals and episodes from the Hindu epics. Because of space to do prathkshna, visitors get a chance to look at the intricate carving closely walking clock-wise. The star shaped temple plan (stellate) with two small vimana and a large vimana and their beauty is enhanced by the perforated windows (called Jali, literally, "sieve") on the sides.
Star-shaped or "staggered square" (or cross in square) temple plans, a common feature of Hoysala style of temple construction, create multiple projections and recesses in the outer walls which house amazing repetitive and decorative sculptures and reliefs called "architectural articulation."
The temple complex is built as a big structure with three shrines, often referred to as trikutas. The central shrine has a tall tower while the lateral shrines that are virtually hidden behind the thick outer walls appear as if they are part of the hall itself. Though dedicated to God Shiva, the friezes and panel relief on the walls display episodes from both the Shaiva and Vaishnava puranas. Through individual vestibules called sukanasi. the three sanctums are connected to the central hall - mahamantapa
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