This is something I had been questioning myself about over the last decade, till I actually ended visiting Belur over the last 2 days.
If you are interested in History, Architecture, Religion, Culture, India – the answer is a big, resounding Yes.
The beauty of the temple is stunning. The intricate carvings and sculptures on the outer walls of the main temple will leave you spellbound with their intricate details and artistic finesse.
First, here is some basic background of the temple below.
Which God is the Channakeshava temple dedicated to?
The Channakeshava temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, one of the trinity of Hindu deities. The sect of Hindu devotees who worship Vishnu as the supreme deity are called Vaishnavas. So the temple is a center of pilgrimage, especially for the Vaishnavas.
Which Indian Saint is the Channakeshava Temple associated with?
Sri Ramanujacharya, one of the most revered and prolific Vaishanava saints stayed in the Channakeshava temple for 30 days, and during this period personally worshiped Lord Channakeshava. This adds a profound sense of reverence to the presiding deity here.
Who built the Channakeshava Temple?
The temple was built in the 12th century AD by one of the most successful emperors of India, King Vishnuvardhana. The temple took a whopping 103 years to be built, across 3 generations of the Hoysalas!
In fact, just beside the temple in the complex is the prototype that was first built. This prototype took 18 years to be built!
The temple was consecrated by King Vishnuvardhana on the 20th of March, 1117 AD.
READ ABOUT Belur here: What to see in Belur?
Why was the Channakeshava Temple built?
This temple was built to commemorate Hoysala victory over the once mighty Cholas in 1116 AD. This battle made the Hoysalas the major kingdom of Southern India. The Hoysala-Chola conflict marked a shift in power in South India, paving the way for the Hoysala Empire’s flourishing in the 12th and 13th centuries.
The temple stands as a lasting symbol of this victory.
How long of a visit should you plan?
It depends entirely on how much you want to cover. If you want to visit only the Belur Channakeshava temple, you may visit and return the same day from Bengaluru. Traveling on road should take about 3-4 hour to reach and be back.
However if you want to make the most of your visit, make a 1 night – 2 days stay to cover Belur, Halebidu and Belavadi. All 3 of them have temples that are exquisite specimens of Hoysala art and sculpting.
The Hoysala Royal Emblem
The origins of the Hoysalas are legendary. The founder of the dynasty was Sala. The legend goes that a tiger attacked his guru’s Ashram. On being commanded by his guru, “Hoy Sala”, the man killed the tiger with bare hands. “Hoy” in Old Kannada language meaning “Kill” (verb) and “Sala” being the man’s name.
The instruction “Hoy Sala” became the name of one of India’s most successful dynasties.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoysala_Kingdom#/media/File:Hoysala_emblem.JPG
