Hoysala Expedition Part 46: Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Vighnasante
So many stunningly beautiful temples of the Hoysala period stay far away from the spotlight, but stand tall when it comes to their architectural and symmetric brilliance. The small town of Vighnasante near Turuvekere in Tumkur district of Karnataka does not only have an exotic sounding name, but is also home to the trikuta Lakshmi Narasimha Temple built in 1286 AD , during the reign of the Hoysala ruler Narasimha III . The three brothers, Appayya, Gopala and Madhava, generals in the army of Narasimha III, have been identified as the ones who have sanctioned and contributed towards building this temple according to the inscriptions available. The temple is a lesson in symmetry, and though the outer walls are devoid of any great carvings that are found normally in the Mallitamma era of temples, the friezes on top of these walls do not fail to enthrall a visitor. Catching the eyes right away is the statue of Garuda holding a snake right at the top central kirtimukha in fro...