Hoysala Expedition Part 32: Channakeshava Temple, Haranahalli

The village of Haranahalli is eight kilometers from Arasikere on the way to Hassan, and it is home to two temples from the Hoysala era. The more popular, complete and the better maintained one, thanks to the initiatives of the local folks and the current Archak Sri Nagendra, is the Channakeshava Temple, or the one that is more popular as the Lakshmi Narasimha Temple.


This trikuta temple has Channakeshava, Venugopala and Lakshmi Narasimha as the main deities in its sanctum sanctorums, and all around, has brilliant incarnations along the walls and on the shrines, indicative of the times of celebrated sculptor Mallitamma. The temple was built in 1234 AD according to the available inscriptions, by the brothers Peddanna, Somanna and Keshanna. The place is believed to be known as Hiriya Somanathapura earlier, and the temple has received major contributions from Hoysala king Veera Narasimha II.


The specialty of the temple is in the main Bhuvaneshwari, where the customary blooming lotus is ornated with a sorrounding set of the different forms of Vishnu. A garden around the temple adds to the beauty of the entire complex.

Here is a video of the photo collage from Haranahalli:



Comments