DAY 222 - SHRAVAN BELAGOLA

222) SATURDAY, 4 FEBRUARY 1978: 80KMS. - SHRAVAN BELAGOLA

   

We continued  our route to SHRAVANBELAGOLA , the city center of JAIN religion.

 

SHARAVANBELAGOLA - Photo :   Ilya Mauter / wikimedia.org (Bing images)

WIKIPEDIA : 

JAINISM  : It refers to a battle with the passions and bodily pleasures that the Jain ascetics undertake. Those who win this battle are termed as Jina (conqueror). The term Jaina is therefore used to refer to laymen and ascetics of this tradition alike. Jainism is one of the oldest religions in the world.

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Gommateshvara Statue, SHRAVANBelaGOL - http://munichtomadras1977.blogspot.com

WIKIPEDIA: 

The 57-feet tall monolithic statue of Gommateshvara is located on Vindyagiri Hill. It is considered to be the world's largest monolithic stone statue. The base of the statue has an inscriptions in Kannada as well as the oldest evidence of written Marathi, ie devnagari script, dating from 981 AD.  

Gommateshvara Statue, SHRAVANBELAGOLA - http://munichtomadras1977.blogspot.com

The inscription praises the king who funded the effort and his general, Chavundaraya, who erected the statue for his mother. Every twelve years, thousands of devotees congregate here to perform the Mahamastakabhisheka, a spectacular ceremony in which the statue is covered with milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins. The next Mahamastakabhisheka will be held in 2018.

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DAY 221 - HALEBID / HALEBIDU

221) FRIDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 1978 : 16KMS. - HALEBID / HALEBIDU

 

We left  BELUR and continued our visit to  a Hindu temple HALEBID, of which the art of construction is Hoysala architecture (Wikipedia),  similar to temples in BELUR.

Kedareshwara Temple, HALEBIDU - Photo : Dineshkanambadi / wikipedia.org (Bing)

Hindu temple at HOYSALESWARA HALEBID - Photo :  Dineshkanambadi / wikipedia.org (Bing)

WIKIPEDIA: 

The temple complex comprises two Hindu temples, the Hoysaleshawara and Kedareshwara temples and two Jain basadi. In front of these temples there is a big lake. The town gets its name from the lake, Dwara samudhra which means entrance from ocean .....


 

Lakshaminarayana, HALEBIDU - Photo : Dineshkanambadi / wikipedia.org (Bing images)

The Hoysaleswara temple, dating back to the 1121 CE, is astounding for its wealth of sculptural details. The walls of the temple are covered with an endless variety of depictions from Hindu mythology, animals, birds and Shilabalikas or dancing figures. Yet no two sculptures of the temple are the same.

Fine stone-carving, HALEBIDU - Photo : Pratheepps / wikipedia.org ( Google images)

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DAY 220 - BELUR

220) THURSDAY, 2 FEBRUARY 1978 : 16KMS. - BELUR

We arrived in BELUR and went on to visit the important Hindu temple CHENNAKESHAVA with its remarkable carved stone figures of gods and decoration design. 

Chennakeshava Temple - http://munichtomadras1977.blogspot.com

WIKIPEDIA:  

The main attraction in Belur is the Chennakeshava temple complex which contains the Chennakesava Temple (dedicated to Chennakeshava, meaning handsome Vishnu) as the centre piece, surrounded by the Kappe Chennigraya temple built by Shantaladevi, queen of king Vishnuvardhana. 

Hindu Temple Chennakeshava Temjple with carved stone images - wikipedia.org

WIKIPEDIA: 

The temple is a holy house for sculptures showcasing innumerable variety of ornaments, the doorways, the ceilings, the birds, the animals, dancers and other figures are fully decorated as if they are full of life and vigour with variety of actions and movements. . The doorways are guarded on either side by the gorgeously decorated dvarapalaka (doorkeepers). 

 

Shiva Slaying Gajasura, Chennakeshava Temple - Photo : wikipedia.org (Google)

 Temple courtyard - Photo : wikipedia.org / Google images search

Temple entrance - http://munichtomadras1977.blogspot.com