Nageshwara And Chennakeshava Temples

-  Carvings & More

By Tharangini

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Thanks for walking with me from part I.

Remember my blog about Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy temple in Bhadravati, where I spoke about the figurine of 'the man in the long coat'? The priest in that temple had told us that that figurine was of the chief architect of the temple. 

The supposed Visha Kanya
or the mystery person in the 
long coat

I was absolutely surprised when I saw a very similar carving here and I was told that this is the 'Visha Kanya' or poisonous maiden. The 'Visha Kanyas' were brought up from childhood with controlled doses of poison. By the time they were grown up their mere touch could kill someone. 

I was not aware that the bygone eras had such advanced modus operandi of honey trapping. But truth be told, this carving did not look like a 'Kanya' to me and nowhere else has a 'Visha Kanya' been depicted this way. So the mystery of this carving remains a mystery to me. Anyone who can throw some light on this is most welcome.

The actual Visha Kanya?

There was another carving nearby that looked like a more suitable candidate for  'Visha Kanya' to me.  This was after I pored through more documentation and information on them, but I would let you decide that for yourselves.

The lion dominating the elephant

The 'Lion dominating the elephant' carvings in multiple places around the temple could as well be the tongue in cheek depiction of defeating the 'The Gajapati Kingdom'  of Odissa, the emblem of which happened to be the elephant. 

Varahi

Garuda

Garuda - Photo Credit - Ramani Shankar

A carving of Varahi, something I had not seen in a lot of temples, sat very prominently in one of the panels while multiple carvings of Garuda were seen all around the temples too.

Kalinga mardana

Among the more ornate carvings are various depictions of Krishna, including the 'Kalinga mardana'.  Krishna is holding the tail of Kalinga and dancing on his head. 

 

The lifting of the Govardhana hill

Another one depicts Krishna holding the Govardhana hill over his head as various villagers and cattle alike gather under it for protection from torrential rain. When Krishna challenged the custom of offering sacrifices to Lord Indra, the villagers stopped the practice. This enraged Indra or 'the rain god' and the rain was a result of his wrath.

Brahma

Chaturmukhi Brahma

The figurines of Brahma and Chaturmukhi Brahma also adorn the walls and some devout visitors to the temple had selectively worshipped these carvings. 

Musicians

Musicians

Multiple, tiny 4-inch panels held musicians lost in their own world playing a variety of instruments. As I was clicking them, beautiful music resonated from inside the temple. The closed interiors of the temple provided amazing acoustics to the group of acclaimed musicians I was travelling with, as they sang a couple of songs in praise of the lord inside. 

Typical of every Hoysala structure, even the outlets from the inner sanctum were adorned with very ornate 'Makaratoranas'.

Let's now go to part III for the last bit about this temple.

Location map: