Belavadi Veera Narayana Temple - Karnataka

Address

Belavadi Veera Narayana Temple – Karnataka

Belavadi, Kadur Taluk,

Chikkamagaluru District,

Karnataka 577146

Moolavar

Veera Narayana

Introduction

Veera Narayana Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Belavadi Village in Kadur Taluk in Chikkamagaluru District, in the Indian state of Karnataka. Belavadi is situated to the south east of Chikkamagaluru on Chikkamagaluru — Javagal Highway via Kalasapura.

Puranic Significance

The temple was constructed in the 12th century CE by King Veera Ballala II of the Hoysala Dynasty. Belavadi, the location of the temple, was known as Ekachakra Nagara during the Mahabharata era. According to legend, it is believed that Bheema, one of the Pandava brothers, defeated and killed the demon Bakasura in this region. Bakasura had been tormenting the local inhabitants, demanding a cartload of food every day and terrorizing the people. Bheema’s heroic act of vanquishing Bakasura is a well-known tale from the Mahabharata epic.

Special features

This temple is considered as one of the largest Hoysala temples. This temple is protected as monuments of national importance by the central Archaeological Survey of India. This temple is facing towards east and a fine example of Hoysala architecture. Unlike the other ornate Hoysala temples, this temple is without raised platform or jagati. The Mahadwara (main gate way) looks like a large inverted cone like structure on a high ground with a square hall and a spacious porch. Both entrances of this structure are flanked by a pair of beautifully carved elephants. Dhwaja Sthambam can be seen immediately after the Maha Dwara. This temple is constructed in trikutachala style, consisting of three shrines, one each on north, south and west. All the shrines have images of Lord Vishnu namely Veeranarayana, Venugopala and Yoga Narasimha. The temple consists of Sanctum, Sukanasi, Navaranga and Mukha Mandapa. The plan of the temple is unique in that two of the shrines face each other and are located on either side of a wide and spacious Navaranga (hall) containing thirty-seven bays.