Vesara Style Of Architecture

Group members:Kumar ParveshSunil Kumar

THE CENTRAL INDIAN ARCHITECTURE STYLE

Vesara is a type of Indian architecture primarily used in temples. The two other prominent styles are Dravida and Nagara. Vesara is a combination of these two temple style.

The term Vesara is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word Vishra meaning an area to take a long walk.

Accordingly, the Vesara style contain elements of both Dravida and Nagara styles. The Vesara style is also described as the 'Central Indian temple architecture style' or 'Deccan architecture'. However many historian agree that the Vesara style originated in what is today Karnataka. The trend was started by the Chalukyas of Badami who built temples in a style that was essentially a mixture of the Nagara and the Dravida styles.

INTRODUCTION

Chennakesava Temple at Belur, 1117 C.E

Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebid, 1150 C.E

Kesava Temple at Somnathpur , 1268 C.E

Chennakesava Temple, Belur

Chennakesava Temple, Belur

Exibits unusual artistic merits.

Construction of which was commissioned by the king Vishnu vardhna in 1117 C.E.

Dedicated to lord Vishnu.

Built on high and wide platform 54m long by 48m wide.

Consists of following compartments:•Hypostylehall called Navaranga.•Vimana with a small square vestibule.

It has 3 enterences one each on three free sides approached by flight of steps.

Inside dimensions of navaranga hall are 28m by 24m.

The main colonades in the hall made two passages crossing each other in the middle of the hall forming a central nave.

The cruciform passages leaves spaces in the angle of the hall in which smaller pillars were placed.

Hypostyle hall (Navaranga)

The pillars are closely set and every part was overlaid with carving.

Each group of four pillars supports beams above and creates a sunken coffered celling.

Total no. of pillars is 46.

Pillars

Each pillar is different in design.The variety of designs and complexity is

astonishing.

One column in the middle of the hall is so unique in character that it was distinguished by the name narasimha.

The sculptor has carved its capital , shaft and base into repeating pattern in niches in each of which is enshrined an image and has a skillfully deviced that the whole pillar could be rotated at will

Narasimha Pillar

Hoysaleswara Temple , Halebid

This is an outstanding temple monument situated within the walls of the ancient city of Darasamudra.

Flourished as the capital city of Hoysala empire.

It is now declined into a small hamlet called Halebid in Hassan District in Karnataka state.

Built by king Vishu Vardhana.This is one of the largest temple dedicated to

Lord Shiva.

Hoysaleswara Temple , Halebid

In this temple adjacent trancept connects two complete temple.The length of each is 34 meters and width about 30 meters with a nandi pavilion in the front.

The main temple structure stands on a broad plateform.

The temple has usual compartments of pillared hall and attached sanctuary.

The walls of main hall are at right angles.

Plan

Nandi Pavilion

The interior is congested and complex owing to closely set pillars.

The capital supports a heavily figured “ Madanakai” brackets.

Interior

It has four squre group of pillars making nave and aisles by intersection.

The shaft of the column were carved and fluted.

The whole exterior has continuous mouldings, borders, friezes, cornices and bands of statuary carried round the whole building.

The average height of the exterior is only 7.5 meters.

Exterior

The plinth wall carved into horizontal bands containing numerous figures like elephants, cavaliers and mystical motifs.

Finest ornamentation

On either side of main entrance the statue of Dwarpala in life size were elaborated into extravagently fanciful creations

As a whole the temple of Halebid is the supreme climax of Indian temple architecture in the most plastic manifestation.

Kesava Temple , Somnathpur

This is a best preserved temple of Hoysala architecture.

Built by Somnatha (a general in the army of king Narsimha III).

This is most complete temple situated at Srirangapatnam in Karnataka state.

Kesava Temple , Somnathpur

The main temple placed in the middle of a rectangular courtyard measuring 66m by 54m surrounded by pillared cloisters containing 64 cells each with pillars in front.

Plan

Cell

Rectangular courtyard

The pillared hall has two compartments:Mukhmandapa or front open hall with 12 pillars.Navaranga or middle hall with 4 pillars.Three shrines on western end.

Mukhmandapa

Navaranga

As a whole Hoysala temples are fine, intricate in carvings , highly creative with their richly adorned figures.

The platform has the figures of Elephants guarding the temple.

The Elephant figures were fully decorated with jewellery with chains and bells.

Exterior and Interior

Indian Architecture(Vedula V.L.N Murthy)Buddhist and Hindu Architecture in India(Satish Grover)

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