Hoysala Empire | UPSC | Why In The News ?
Recently, a Hoysala-era idol of Mahakali at the Lakshmi Devi temple, Karnataka was found damaged
- An inscription of the Hoysala period and pedestals, said to be of an ancient structure, were found close to the site where a government engineering college is coming up at Kellengere near Arsikere.
About Temple :
- Lakshmi Devi temple, built in a chatuskuta style (four shrines), is one of the earliest known temples built by the Hoysalas.
- It was built by the Hoysala Empire King Vishnuvardhana in 1114 C.E.
- The building material is Chloritic schist, more commonly known as soapstone.
- The temple does not stand on a jagati (platform), a feature which became popular in later Hoysala temples.
- It is an archaeological Survey of India (ASI) monument.
Hoysala empire:
- This empire ruled almost all of present-day Karnataka between the 11th to mid 14th centuries.
- Their capital was Belur which was later shifted to Halebidu.
- This period was a very important era for the development of art, architecture, and religion in the Southern countries.
- The Hoysala Empire contributed to the growth of both Kannada and Sanskrit literature.
- The earliest known king of this empire is Nripa Kama II who lived around 1026-1047 AD. He was probably a feudatory of the Western Ganga Dynasty and is known to have indulged in futile wars against the Cholas.
- However, another early Hoysala ruler Vinayaditya was a feudatory of Chalukyas of Kalyani.
- Vinayaditya was having family ties with Western Chalukyan King Someshwara I. His son Ereyanaga tried to establish himself as an independent monarch but was not successful.
- He was succeeded by Veera Ballala-I who was also an unimportant ruler.
- The first notable great Hoysala king was Vishnuvardhana, who was also known as Bittiga.
Learning Schools : Govind Ballabh Pant | UPSC
- Ghatikas
Religion :
- Jainism, Vaishnavism and Lingayatism
Contemporary Philosophers :
- Basava, Madhvacharya and Ramanuja in Karnataka
Rajaditya :
- Mathematician who wrote Vyavahara Anita and Lilavati during Vishnuvardhana‘s reign
Last Ruler :
- Veera Ballala III
Hoysala Temple Architecture:
- It is the building style developed under the rule of the Hoysalas and is mostly concentrated in southern Karnataka.
- Hoysala temples are sometimes called hybrid or vesara as their unique style seems neither completely Dravida nor nagara.
Some of their famous temples are:
- Hoysaleswara (Lord of the Hoysalas) Temple : At Halebid, Karnataka, and built-in dark schist stone by a Hoysala king in AD 1150.
- Chennakeshava Temple : At Somnathpur, Karnataka and was built around AD 1268 under Narasimha III.
- Kesava Temple : At Belur, Hassan district of Karnataka built by Vishnuvardhana
Source : The Hindu