A short Details about Belur Temple,

***A short Details about Belur Temple***

Now Belur is a small town but long back it was the Capital of a powerful Empire. The rulers of this empire were called as Yadava Kings. They were first under the control of Chalukyas but later became independent. Afterwards the Cholas and Pandyas in South India were subject to paramountancy of Yadavas.

Among Yadava Kings, Vishnuvardhana got rid of Chalukyas. It is said that King Vishnuvardhana built the main temple of Channakeshava. Thousands of visitors from in and out of India i.e. from foreign countries came to see the magnificent architecture of the temple. Students of Art Colleges never miss to see this marvelous work of the temple. Sometimes they come and stay here weeks together to go through details regarding the charm and beauty of the sculpture. The innumerable variety of ornaments, the doorways, the ceilings, etc., the birds, the animals, dancers and other figures are fully decorated as if they are full of life and vigor with variety of actions and movements.

From inscription it is learnt that Vishnuvardhana got the temple built in memory of his victory of Talkad against Cholas and in some place it is said that Vishnuvardhana got built this temple as a sign of his having adopted Vaishnavism as advised by the great guru Sri Ramanujacharya. If a detailed study of the structure is taken, one may know the star-shaped Garbhagruha, Shukanasi and the Navaranga the inside pillars, the outside work i.e. pillars and ceilings, might have been done during the reign of Vishnuvardhana. The large niches, friezes and sculptures on the outside and also the beautifully designed inside pillars and ceilings including three doorways were carved during his time.

The Garbhagruha was surmounted by a high star-shaped tower of brick and mortar supported by wood work and plated with gold guilded copper sheets. Standing on a high platform on the top of a raised ground, the structure has a commanding look. The beautiful image of Keshava called as Vijaya Narayana was installed in the sanctum in 1117 A.D (in the Christian era).

At about the same time. Vishnuvardhana’s senior Queen Shanthaladevi though inclined to Jainism did not fail to take part in the Vaishnava temple work. She got built the Channigaraya temple similar in form to the main temple, though less elaborated and less decorated.


The figure of Channigaraya installed by her is about the same that of Keshava in the main temple, but smaller in size. It bears the inscription of Vijayanarasimha I, son and successor of Vishnuvardhana who made grants for the maintenance of the temple and for regular poojas. The remaining of the Durbar scene to the north of Navaranga doorways shows that some improvements might have been made in the temple.


Afterwards Veera Ballala II got built a fine pond called Vasudeva Thirtha to the north-east of the main temple in 1175 A.D. which till now open on all sided was covered with perforated screens and three doors were provided with massive buttoned doors. Supporting towers were erected on either side of each doorway while in the interior of the temple, the Navaranga was separated from the Sukanasi by insertion of beautifully carved pot-stone doorway.


Further in the premises of the temple a shrine with charming sculptures like those at Kedarewhsara Temple at Hlebeed was built for the God Veera Naarayana. In the days of Veera Ballala II, one of his officer Somaya Danayaka got the central tower rebuilt with brick and wood.

When the Tugalaks invaded the Deccan their officer Ganga Salar of Kalburgi lead seize to the temple and burnt its gateway. Shortly afterwards he founded the Bahamani Dynasty.

The Vijayanagar Emperor took much pains and did all that was required for the temple.

In 1397 A.D. Gunda, a General under Harihara II, constructed the seven storied gopuram in the plae of Mahadwara, which was burnt by Ganga Salar.

After sometime, three important buildings i.e., the Soumyanayaki Temple, the large Mantap on the West and the Andal Shrine were put up behind the main temple. It is learnt that materials from the ruined Hoysala buildings at several places were freely used.

A good part of Navaranga of Channigaraya Temple was also rebuilt during Vijayanagara period while a number of minor erections were done here and there in the compounded of the temple like the Deepashambha (Light Pole) and the Yagashala where the Sacred Fire in the temple is lit.

During the 15th Century the materials of Shiva and Jain Temples were used for the construction of Naganayaka Mantap right in the front of the main temple (which is no more in existence now).

The Tuluva Emperors of Vijayanagar had this deity as their family God (Kuladevaru) Several repairs and minor constructions were undertaken by the Nayaka chiefs of Belur.

During 1879 the Vimana tower became so ruined that it had to be removed to save the main temple from collapsing.

Beginning of the idols of east doorway and extending beyond he north and south doorway up to the outer wall of the Sukanasi runs a jagati or railed parapet on which are sculptured in succession from the bottom of the following horizontal friezes.

• Elephants.
• Cornice with bead work surmounted by Simhalathas.
• Scroll work with figures in every convolution.
• Another cornice with bead work.
• Small figures mostly female in projecting ornamental niches with intervening figures of Yakshas seated inward.
• Delicately carved figures, mostly female between pedestals.
• Caves with bead work a thick creeper running along the edge of the upper slope adorned with miniature turrets, lions and beautifully carved tiny figures.Brief story of Mahabharatha, Ramayana.

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