Belur - Heaven of Carvings - Pride of the Hoysala Dynasty

Place Name: Belur

Distance from Bangalore: approx 200 KM from Majestic

Route: Via Nelamangala, Mangalore route, go till Hassan and take Chikmagalur route

Duration: 1 day Trip

Road Condition: Good

Best time to visit: Any time during the year (Tuesday would be a better day for good photography)

My frequent visits to Hassan  gave me the opportunity to visit Belur and capture the world’s best carvings. The threatening cyclonic weather was posing a challenge for the visit. However the mild showers and the moderate weather gave me the perfect day for photography. Reaching Belur, I headed towards the very famous Channakeshava temple. The resplendent beauty of the temple reflects through the Gopuram (Entrance of the temple).  Upon entering the temple, one can enquire about the guides and engage one, to know more about the interesting history of the temple.

Historians have recorded that Belur was the early capital of Hoysala dynasty. This temple is believed to be one of the finest example of Hosyala Architecture. This was built by King Vishnuvardhana in commemoration of his victory over the Cholas at Talakad in 1117 AD. The grandson of Vishnuvardhana, Veera Ballala II complete the task of building the temple. The splendid architecture took 103 years to be completed. The temple is alluring with intricate carvings and beautiful sculptures and friezes with no portion left blank. The intricate workmanship include Elephants(symbolizing the strength), Lions(symbol of bravery), Horse(symbol of speed). One can also notice the depiction of the Mahabharata and Ramayana epics on the walls of the temple. The carvings of the sensuous dancers(Shilabalikas) captivates the heart. There are 40 odd shilabalikas carvings and each one is distinct from the other. It is  The spectacular expression on the face of the Shilabalikas is noticeable.  The temple is rich with the age old traditions and is also vaastu compliant. The temple is built in a typical star formation which helps to accommodate lot of sculptors, form a firm grip to the complete temple, and the star represents the Shri Chakra formation.

There is 600 odd carvings of elephants around the temple which is different in action. It is said that these carvings of the temple is an inspiration for the Aksharadhama Temple (New Delhi). 

There is a Rangastal inside the sanctorum of the temple, where it is believed that the queen Shantaladevi (wife of Vishnuvardhana) presented her dance before the lord. There are many ornate pillars which is unique in designs and style. The famous carving of the  Darpana Sundari (Lady with Mirror) is major attraction and is believed to be inspired by the queen herself.

History believes that the carvings in the temple was under the guidance of Maha shilpi Jakanachari. (Legend says that Dankanachari (son of Jakanachari) found that the main statue of Lord Vishnu was faulty and had frog inside it. Jakana, was shocked to believe this, cut his right hand when it was proved. He vowed to build the other temple and contemplated the task. The old temple is known as Kappechennigaraayas temple.). An interesting feature that one can notice is that one of the pillar which houses almost all the carvings around the temple. It is said that this pillar was built on bearing system and was rotating. However, due to lightning which struck, this cannot be noticed now. The pillars inside are magnificently carved with all different designs. The main Santorum of the temple has the main deity of 12foot long Chennakeshava idol of 8ft which is housed on 4ft of base. The Chennakeshva idol is mesmerizing. The sculptors have taken care to ensure the adequate aeration inside the temple. On a close observation, you can notice that the temple is built on lock and key fashion. The ceiling is fantastically carved with "Ugranarsimha" in the Center.

The depiction of the multistorey building has also been carved ,where you see the space that is been left out in balcony. Sand stone has been used for the sculptures which is said to have been bought from Tumkur. There is one shilabalki inside whose bangle is been sculpted so well, that the bangle can be moved even today. I have tried to capture it with flash and I’m able to see the gap between the hand and the bangle .

Belur is so magnificently built and I see this has the heaven of carvings. I spent almost 3 hours in Belur knowing and exploring the sculptures and have always returned with the state of contentment and appreciating the work of all the sculptors for the wonderful craftsman ship.

Few pics below 

please do visit the following link for more description on each image

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1419890931556239.1073741831.1393567807521885&type=3&uploaded=30

 

The Praying Hands

     

Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children. Eighteen! In order merely to keep food on the table for this mob, the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by profession, worked almost eighteen hours a day at his trade and any other paying chore he could find in the neighborhood. Despite their seemingly hopeless condition, two of Albrecht Durer the Elder’s children had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art, but they knew full well that their father would never be financially able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy.

After many long discussions at night in their crowded bed, the two boys finally worked out a pact. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down into the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother while he attended the academy. Then, when that brother who won the toss completed his studies, in four years, he would support the other brother at the academy, either with sales of his artwork or, if necessary, also by laboring in the mines.

They tossed a coin on a Sunday morning after church. Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to Nuremberg. Albert went down into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, financed his brother, whose work at the academy was almost an immediate sensation. Albrecht’s etchings, his woodcuts, and his oils were far better than those of most of his professors, and by the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn considerable fees for his commissioned works.

When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner on their lawn to celebrate Albrecht’s triumphant homecoming. After a long and memorable meal, punctuated with music and laughter, Albrecht rose from his honored position at the head of the table to drink a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled Albrecht to fulfill his ambition. His closing words were, “And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you.”

All heads turned in eager expectation to the far end of the table where Albert sat, tears streaming down his pale face, shaking his lowered head from side to side while he sobbed and repeated, over and over, “No …no …no …no.”

Finally, Albert rose and wiped the tears from his cheeks. He glanced down the long table at the faces he loved, and then, holding his hands close to his right cheek, he said softly, “No, brother. I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. Look … look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make delicate lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, brother … for me it is too late.”

More than 450 years have passed. By now, Albrecht Durer’s hundreds of masterful portraits, pen and silver-point sketches, watercolors, charcoals, woodcuts, and copper engravings hang in every great museum in the world, but the odds are great that you, like most people, are familiar with only one of Albrecht Durer’s works. More than merely being familiar with it, you very well may have a reproduction hanging in your home or office.

One day, to pay homage to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew his brother’s abused hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward. He called his powerful drawing simply “Hands,” but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and renamed his tribute of love “The Praying Hands.”

Moral: The next time you see a copy of that touching creation, take a second look. Let it be your reminder, if you still need one, that no one – no one – ever makes it alone!

 

 

Success is never Final

A Martial artist kneeling before the master sensei in a ceremony to receive a hard-earned black belt. After years of relentless training, the student has finally reached a pinnacle of achievement in the discipline.

"Before granting the belt, you must pass one more test," said the sensei.

"I am ready," responded the student, expecting perhaps one final round of sparring.

"You must answer the essential question: What is the true meaning of the black belt?"

"The end of my journey," says the student ."A well-deserved reward for all my hard work".

The sensei waited for more .Clearly, he was not satisfied. Finally, the sensei spoke "You are not yet ready for the Black Belt. Return in one year".

A year later, the Student kneeled again in front of the sensei.

"What is the true meaning of the black belt?" asked the sensei.

"A symbol of distinction and the highest achievements in our art," said the student.

The sensei said nothing for many minutes, waiting. Clearly ,he was not satisfied. Finally, he spoke ."You are still not ready for the black belt. Return in one year."

A year later, the student kneeled once again in front of the sensei. And again the sensei asked: "What is the true meaning of the black belt?"

The black bely represents the beginning----the start if a never-ending journey of discipline, work and the pursuit of an ever-high standard," said the student.

"Yes you are now ready to receive the black belt and begin your work."

Moral : Success in never Final it’s a journey itself.