Hoysala temples on UNESCO heritage list: What sets the ‘Sacred Ensembles’ apart, what stories they tell

Source: The post is based on the article “Hoysala temples on UNESCO heritage list: What sets the ‘Sacred Ensembles’ apart, what stories they tell”  published in Indian Express on 25th September 2023

What is the News?

Three Hoysala-era temples in Karnataka made it to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, under the collective entry of ‘Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas’.

What are Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas?

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What makes Hoysala Temples architecture stand out?

Use of Soapstone: Hoysala temples are known for their intricate sculptures, and this is made possible by the use of soapstone, which is easy to carve.These sculptures depict various subjects, including animals, daily life scenes and stories from epics and Puranas, providing insights into the society of that era.

Unique Confluence of Styles: Hoysala architecture combines three distinct architectural styles – mainstream Dravidian architecture (seen in Pallava and Chola temples), Vesara style (a variant of Dravida style from Chalukya and Rashtrakuta temples), and North Indian Nagara style. This blend of styles was influenced by the Hoysalas military expeditions to different regions, bringing in diverse artistic influences.

Star-Shaped Platforms: Hoysala temples are typically constructed on star-shaped platforms, and they comprise multiple structures within the complex.The walls and pillars are adorned with intricate sculptures, often with rich narratives and descriptions.

Artistic Signatures: A distinctive feature of Hoysala temples is that sculptors and masons left their names and sometimes additional details on the temple structures, providing historical insights into the craftsmen behind these remarkable creations.

Transition to Hinduism: These temples were constructed during a period when Jainism was prevalent in the region, signifying a shift towards Hinduism in the Hoysala dynasty.

What makes the three Hoysala temples on UNESCO list special?

The three Hoysala temples on the UNESCO list are particularly special due to their exceptional preservation and artistic significance:

Chennakesava Temple at Belur: This temple is renowned for its 46 unique pillars (except for four in the central bay) and its intricate sculptures.One of the sculptures, “Darpana Sundari” (lady with the mirror), is believed to be modeled after Queen Shantala Devi.

Kesava Temple in Somanathapura: This temple has a distinctive 16-point star-shaped design and houses three shrines dedicated to Keshava, Janardhana, and Venugopala.Unfortunately, the Keshava statue is now missing.

Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebidu: Despite its current ruined state, this temple is considered one of the highest achievements of Hoysala architecture.The infinite wealth of sculpture over the exterior of this temple makes it one of the most remarkable monuments of the world and a repository of religious thought expressed in plastic form.

– Halebidu was raided by Malik Kafur, a general of the then Delhi Sultan Alauddin Khalji.

NOTE-Some of the other recently added UNESCO sites are as follows-

1) Rani Ki Vav-(The Queen’s Stepwell)- Gujrat-2014
2)  Great Himalayan National Park -Himachal Pradesh-2014
3) Nalanda-  Bihar-2016
4) Khangchendzonga National Park- Sikkim-2016
5) Architectural Work of Le Corbusier (Capitol Complex) -Chandigarh-2016
6) The Historic City -Ahmedabad-2017
7) Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles -Mumbai-2018
8) The Pink City- Jaipur-2019
9) Kakatiya Rudreshwara(Ramappa)Temple- Telangana-2021
10)  Dholavira – Gujarat-2021
11)  Santiniketan -West Bengal-2023