Belur Sri Chennakeshava Temple, Karnataka

Address

Belur Sri Chennakeshava Temple, Belur, Hassan district Karnataka – 573115 India.

Chennakeshava (Vishnu)

The Chennakeshava Temple in Belur, Karnataka, is a significant Vaishnava pilgrimage site and a stunning example of Hoysala architecture.

Puranic Significance:

Chennakeshava is a form of Lord Vishnu, and the temple is dedicated to this deity.
The temple’s history is tied to King Vishnuvardhana, who commissioned its construction in the 12th century on the banks of the Yagachi River in Belur, an early Hoysala Empire capital.
The temple was built over three generations and took 103 years to complete. It has witnessed damage and plundering during wars, followed by repeated reconstruction and repairs.
The Chennakeshava Temple is renowned for its architectural splendor, intricate sculptures, reliefs, friezes, iconography, inscriptions, and historical significance. The temple’s artwork portrays scenes of daily life in the 12th century, as well as depictions of dancers, musicians, and stories from texts like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Puranas.
Although King Vishnuvardhana is known as a great devotee of Lord Vishnu and is believed to have constructed the temple to mark his conversion to Sri Vaishnavism under the influence of Ramanuja, historical records don’t strongly support this claim.
The temple’s construction spanned over a century and was associated with the development of a new architectural tradition known as the Dravida tradition within the Hoysala Empire.
In the early 14th century, the Hoysala Empire, including its capital, was invaded and destroyed by Malik Kafur, a commander of the Delhi Sultanate ruler Alauddin Khalji. Later, the Vijayanagara Empire took control of the territory and repaired the temple.

Special Features:

The Chennakeshava Temple is the main temple in the complex and is located in the middle, facing east. The temple, including later additions, measures 178 feet by 156 feet.
The main temple has two sanctums, one dedicated to Venugopala and the other to Chennigaraya.
The temple complex features other smaller temples, including the Viranarayana temple to the west, the Somyanayaki temple to the southwest, and the Andal temple (Ranganayaki shrine) to the northwest.
There are also several small shrines and a granary for storing food reserves in the northwest corner of the complex.

Pancha Narayana Kshetrams:

As per legend, Ramanujacharya, a revered saint and theologian, established five Vishnu temples known as Pancha Narayana Kshetrams in Karnataka. The Chennakeshava Temple of Belur is one of these Pancha Narayana Kshetrams.
It is believed that visiting these five temples can lead one to attain Vaikunta Moksham, the ultimate spiritual liberation.

Festivals:

The Chennakeshava Temple celebrates two major festivals in the Tamil months of Chithirai (April-May) and Vaikasi (May-June). These festivals are celebrated with much enthusiasm, attracting devotees and visitors to the temple complex.