Saumyakeshava temple,Nagamangala,KA.upload.wikimedia.org |
Above image: Saumyakeshava temple in Nagamangala, Madhya District of Karnataka. This temple has a unique stellate shrine and closed mantapa (hall) built in the 12th century in Hoysala style of design. As for the outer walls on the tower and gate, they were built by the Vijayanagara rulers in14th-16th century). Unlike the Hoysala structures they lack profusion of relief and ornamental work. Image credit: Dineshkannambadi ..................
Saumyakeshava temple,Nagamangala,KA.upload.wikimedia.org |
Front hall, sanctum,Saumyakeshava temple, Nagamangala, KA |
Architecturally, the temple showcases a unique blend of Hoysala and Nagara styles. Its stellate (star shaped) shrine, built from soapstone (soft stone of metamorphic origin, available in plenty in this region), rests on a jagati platform, a Hoysala innovation. Contrary to typical Hoysala designs, it incorporates Nagara features. It is to be borne in mind the Nagara style of design is rare in the Hoysala temples.
The temple's structure comprises three parts, a sanctum, a vestibule, a closed mantapa with lathe-turned pillars, and a large pillared gathering hall. A 7-story gopuram, adorned with stucco figures of Hindu deities, marks the entrance. The base of the temple, the adhisthana, transitions from a stellate form to a staggered square at the Maha Mantapa. The outer walls feature single pilastered turrets, while the shrine's tower, the shikhara, maintains a plain, austere appearance. The temple is named after the six-foot-tall, serene image of Keshava, a form of Vishnu, standing on a Garuda pedestal.
The external platform has clockwise circumambulation (pradakshina path), but the interior lacks this feature. The Vijayanagara Empire (14th -16 century) added the entrance tower and outer walls; post-Vijayanagara elements are also present, reflecting continued modifications.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saumyakeshava_Temple,_Nagamangala