Travel And Leisure
| By : Ajit Hari Sahu | Previous | Next |
| Posted on : 31 Aug, 2005 | Total Views : 390 |
Somnathpur
Scenes from the great Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, flow across the walls, with the end of each chapter...
In India, a place where two rivers converge is usually considered sacred. Somnathpur, some 45 kilometers (28 miles) east of Mysore where the Kabini flows into the Kaveri, is no exception. The small town was named after its founder, Somnath, an officer in the court of the Hoysala king Narshimha III. What makes this town famous is its magnificent temple, built by Somnath in 1268.
As at Belur and Halebid the temple stands on a star-shaped base. However, it differs from the others in that its triple shrine stands in the center of a courtyard surrounded by a cloister-like enclosure. The temple is dedicated to three aspects of Vishnu; Kesava, Janardhana and Venugopala. The overall effect at Somnathpur is less ornate and elaborate than the other Hoysala temples and the carving is more restrained. Nonetheless, the wealth of detail in the stories told in stone is almost overwhelming. Scenes from the great Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, flow across the walls, with the end of each chapter or scene marked by a closed or half-closed door. No fewer than 74 separate sculpted images of unparalleled beauty compel us to marvel at the conception of the chief architect, Jakaachari, and the skills of his craftsmen.
