ಕ್ಷಣಪ್ರಭಾ - Kshanaprabhaa

Right next to the Channakeshava Temple , as its mirror image, is the Nageshwara Temple in the village of Mosale near Hassan. Slightly taller and slightly more intricately carved on the outside compared ti the Channakeshava Temple, the Nageshwara temple also has a more attractive stone kalasha as well as multiple statues of Sala slaying the lion in different shapes and sizes all around the temple. The year of construction is believed to be 1200 AD under the reign of Veera Ballala II, with the temple covered with statues of the 24 forms of Vishnu, his 10 incarnations, Mahishamardhini, Saraswati and more, despite the main sanctum housing the Shiva linga of Nageshwara. Here's a video: Nageshwara Temple, Mosale from hmvprasanna on Vimeo .

About 10 kilometers from the city of Hassan on the way towards Holenarasipur is the village of Mosale - one half of the twin villages of Mosale and Hosahalli. Mosale houses two of the most stunning Hoysala architectural beauties that very few people are aware of. Known as the twin temple complex of Nageshwara and Channakeshava, both  the temples have their own individual brilliance to exude, while being remarkably similar to each other to the extent that one would feel they are mirror images of each other. Focus of this blog post is the Channakeshava Temple , built in 1200 AD by Emperor Veera Ballala II . The temple is a clear indication of the beginning of the golden era of the Mallitamma school of handsome and intricate carvings on the outer walls, while the Bhuvaneshwaris on the inner ceilings continue to take your breath away. The huge stone Kalasas are a real specialty too. I happened to visit the place around dusk, and the setting sun gave it a beauty that ca...