This blog is part of the series I have written on Hoysala Temples. This is a follow-on to the initial blog and specifically covers the Veera Narayana Swamy Temple at Belavadi.  

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The Sri Veera Narayana Swamy Temple, Belavadi, is another temple that amazed us with the craftsmanship within. Every temple we visited during this trip was beyond compare and the experience was truly overwhelming. In ancient times this place was known as Ekachakranagar, where during Mahabharata Bhima killed the demon Bakasura.

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This trikuta (three-shrine) temple was built in 1200 CE by King Veera Ballala II and is among the bigger Hoysala shrines. This temple has amazing architecture, as compared to the more famous temples of Belur and Halibeedu, which are famous for their intricate sculptures.

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This is a Vaishnava temple and all three shrines have images of Vishnu, though in different avatars.

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The central shrine is an older shrine and has a 8-foot tall murti of Veernaranaya Swamy standing under a Kalpavriksha with four hands and is considered one of the best examples of Hoysala art. He is surrounded by figures of Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatan, Sanat Kumars, Gopikas, Cows, Rukmini, and Satyabhama. It has been certified by ASI as the best Krishna murti of India. Its beautiful carving makes you feel his divine presence.

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The southern shrine has an image of Venugopala (Krishna playing the flute) including a garuda pedestal and the northern shrine has an image of Yoganarasimha, sitting in a yoga posture holding a shanka and chakra, with Sridevi and Bhoodevi standing on either side. It is said that after killing Hiranyakashyap, Narasimha was very angry. To mitigate that anger, he posed in the yoga mudra.

All three murtis are made from Ekashila Shaligram.

The outer walls are carved like typical Hoysala temples. A unique aspect of this temple is its trikuta vimana and stunningly beautiful murtis. Emphasis is more on the inner beauty of the temple and Vigrahas.

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An engineering marvel of this temple is that on the day of the equinox i.e March 23rd, the first ray of the sun crosses the seven doors of the temple and falls on the murti of Veernarayan Swamy. A large number of people gather on that day as it is an important event.

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Festivals celebrated here include Chaitra Purnima, Janamashtami, Rathasaptami, and Narasimha Jayanti. During Chaitra Purnima Utsav the murtis of Vishnu, Shridevi, and Bhudevi are taken out in a procession.

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Belavadi is 29 km southeast of Chikmagalur town on the Chikmagalur-Javagal highway. It is a short distance from the famous temple towns of Belur and Halebidu.

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The photographs in this blog bring out the design and the richness of the sculptures.

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My blogs of the other Hoysala temples I visited can be seen at:

1. Chandramouleswara Temple, Arasikere
2. Amrutheshwara Temple, Amruthapura
3. Lakshmi Devi Temple, Doddagaddavalli
4. Hoysaleshwar Temple, Halebidu
5. Kedareshwara Temple, Halebidu
6. Parshvanatha Jain Temple, Halebidu
7. Chennakeshava Temple, Belur
8. Chennakeshava Temple, Arakere
9. Sri Lakshmi Narsimha Temple, Javagal

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Note: All photographs displayed above are my exclusive property and copyright; their use is prohibited without explicit consent, in writing.