Incredible India - Just an Example Belur and Halebidu, Part 2



Shukabhashini

 Shukabhashini, means who speaks like Parrot. This balike has a bird in hand (see Red elipse). It  looks like Parrot  from one angle and like Peacock from another angle. It symbolises Girls must speak sweet like Parrot and must dance like Peacock. The Black square has name of the sculpturer.

Beautiful Kannadiga girl

Kannadiga girl: This sculpture is found one a pillow near Garbhagudi. This is around 5 feet tall statue. It shows all feature of a 'Beautiful' Kannadiga girl. The face, bow shaped eye brows, eyes,  Nose, lips, there proportion, the belly, hands and legs, very finely dressed.

The temple has pillars each is very different. Lets go out, to the Exterior of the Temple that is the 'Praakara', here we see more shilabalikes. Around 600+ hair styles are found. A Kannada proverb says, to see in and out and to understand all of these statues one need to settle down in Belur and spend there life time.

Darpana Sundari

Darpana Sundari: A very famous Statue. Balike holds the Mirror with the clamp. Though lady is very beautifully dressed, she is not happy. Observe the “Viraha/Sadness” (as she is missing her husband, to make us understand she is married sculpturer carved finger ring in feet.). The same is depicted by her servent, who holds a monkey and has Banana in another hand, Monkey can see it, but cant eat it.

Lizard with jack fruit

Lizard with jack fruit: Another Balike who is near a tree, in which a Lizard has a portion of Jack fruit in its mouth. As I said in my previous Blog(Part-1) all these sculpture work shows extensive craftsmanship. The more detail you go, more we get to see and understand.



Kindled Balike

 Kindled Balike: Pretty simple dressed, and a monkey is kindling her by pulling her Pallu. See her hair bun, the curl of hair near forehead, very innovative pattern right? Expression of her face is very well shown.

Musician Balike

Musician: She holds “Mrudanga” sort of musical instrument. This is carved in many statues of Belur and Halebidu. Seems some well known musical instrument of that time. Rope sort of structure is made from stone, such an engineered approach. Her necklaces has very small bead like structure, carvings.

Plucking Balike

Plucking Balike: She is plucking flower/fruits and collecting all of them in a tray. A holds the tray, another server is assisting her in it. There is calmness in her face. Stylishly holds the fruit in her left hand.

Preying Balike

Preying Balike:  Seems at Hoysala’s time even ladies used to go for preying. She has Bow and arrow in her arms (broken). She is stepping ahead of others. Her servants are following her. One servant has thorn in feet, which another one is removing it with ‘plucker’!!!!!!.

Modern Culture......... :)

Modern Culture: This statue has worn slipper, shorts sort of dress. Hair is like curl spikes. She may be a “Visha Kanye/ Poisonous girl”, as she holds Snake in hand, and no fear on face. At that time these girls were used as a weapon for indirect war.

Shuka Sambhashini

Shuka Sambhashini: Shuka means Parrot. As in that time Parrots were used as communication for far distances, they were thought to talk like humans. This Balike can interact with Parrots. So she is holding a Parrot on palm, it is telling her something. She has a set of eager servants around her.

Tribhangi

Tribhangi: The dancer balike has bent her boday in 3 different dimension. Her ornaments are turned accordingly. Rani Shantala Devi was doing such a dance. Hence she is inspiration for this sculpture.

Walking Balike 

Walking Balike: A lady walking with children and dog. A most common seen now, on road right?. Which our people practiced since Hoysala’s!!!!!! Amazing. Observe she has one boy and one girl children with her.

All these balikes have different ornament patterns, especially the belt sort of jewel worn by all these balikes has different hangings, hair styles, anklets, Ear rings, bangles are all so different and very unique amongst these vivid statues. All of these statues shed light on there time, way of living.

Halebidu I will cover in next continuation blog… where in you can explore more on Architecture/Vaastu of Hoysala’s style .

Incredible India - Belur & Halebidu Just an Example, Part 1

Belur and Halebid are in Chikmagalur district of Karnataka state.Chikmagalur, in Kannada means younger daughter’s town. The district is situated between 12° 54´ 42´´ and 13° 53´ 53´´ north latitude and between 75° 04´ 46´´ and 76° 21´ 50´´ east longitude. Its greatest length from east to west is about 138.4 kilometers and from north to south 88.5 kilometers.

Hoysala is a dynasty who ruled Karnataka from 10 – 14^th A.D.  Hoysala kings remont chikmagalur.  Bellur and Halebidu used to be there capital. Art of Hoysala’s are even found in Somanathapur, Amrutapura, Belavadi and Nuggehalli.

Hoysala's Royal Emblem

Rest, in this Blog I will show the intricate sculpture work of Belur and Halebidu. This article is entirely dedicated to craftsmanship and architecture of Hoysala’s time . I cordially salute the chief architects and each worker for his contribution, which made these temple very privileged and a wonderful art gallery. Eventually gives immense pleasure to say I am an Indian.

Architecture of Hoysala has influence of Dravid style. In turn this is an expertise Architecture which emphasized on intricate yet delicate carvings throughout all the temples built in its time. Please remember this. Observe each picture shown in this blog.

Belur is more famous for its “Shila Balikes/ಶಿಲಾ ಬಾಲಿಕೆಯರು” means stone girls. The Temple has God ChennaKeshava’s main statue. It has all feature of a girl like Nose rings, Bindi etc so name ‘Chenna’  means beautiful, Keshava  as it’s a avatar of God Krishna.



Belur Temple



Architects at that time have had a building plan(similar to Blue print), they have built a draft building using the plan. It took 20 years for them to build this index building.

 

Index Building



 Inside the Chennakeshava temple there is ‘Narasimha Pillar/Kambha’. It indexes what all has been sculptured in entire Praakara, in miniature version.

 

Narasimha Kambha

  

The temple has Mantapa. This too has a speciality. That is it Symbolizes “Trimurthies” those are “Bramha, Vishnu and Maheswara”. Narasimha carving for Vishnu, the projection exterior surface has carvings of Bramha and entire projection looks like “Eshwara linga”. We can dismantle it completely even now also.

Mantapa with its projection, symbolising Trimurthies.

 The above is just an example Shilabalike, more balikes are in next blog.......