A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c21.92

c21.92

The builders of Hoysala temples invariably used a dark stone of much finer grain than the large unwieldy blocks of sandstone used by the early Chālukyas. The change of material made it possible for the masonry of the Mysore temples to be better finished and the sculptures to be carved in more minute and exquisite detail. In general, the Hoysala temple comprises a central structure surrounded by walls containing a number of cells with a pillared verandah or cloister in front. The main building contained the cella with a vestibule in front known as *sukhanāsi* and connecting with a pillared hall (navaranga). In front of this there was often an open pillared pavilion, the mukhamandapa. In many cases, the Hoysala temples are not single but double, having all essential parts duplicated; indeed they are frequently even built in triplicate, quadruplicate, and, occasionally, even quintuplicate. Another notable feature was the star shape of the external walls of the main shrine, set on a high platform, the sides of which project or recede with lines and angles parallel to those of the building it supports. The platform is much wider than the temple, leaving a flat surface all round to serve as the pradakshina-patha for which there is no provision inside. The general treatment of wall surfaces is marked by a large number of horizontal friezes imposed upon one another. The walls of the vimana are divided into three horizontal divisions while those of the pillared hall have only two; but a wide continuous cornice binds the two parts of the structure together. In both, a high and almost vertical basement, 9 or 10 feet high, (Pl. XIII) is made up of a number of sculptured animal friezes running right round the building. The lowest band is usually a procession of elephants; the next, of horsemen. Then, after another band of spiral foliage, and on a level with the eye, is a wider frieze depicting a succession of Puranic scenes executed with great effect and a considerable wealth of detail. Above this is a border of yalis with spirals of foliage issuing from their mouths, and crowning all is a running frieze of hamsas. The basement of the pillared hall is terminated above by a 'sloping seat-back' (asana) above which rise the external pillars of the hall with their moulded shafts at regular intervals, the spaces between the columns being filled by perforated stone screens.