LORD CHENNAKESAVA OF BELUR

THE ARCHAMURTHI

Lord Chennakesava's black granite statue in standing posture measures about six feet in height. It is installed on a three foot high pedestal. Its loveliness emerging from the sculptor's exquisite craftsmanship is beyond description. It was originally called Vijayanarayana, one of the honorific titles of Bittideva, the Hoyasala monarch but later came to be worshipped as Chennakesava, an account of its extra ordinary charm that mesmerises the beholders with a single sight. He reveals in four arms, bearing the usual insignia of disc, conch, mace and lotus with an intricate auriole, adding grace to the figure. The goddesses Bhudevi and Sridevi are seated on his either side and his mount Garuda just in front on a pedestal. Offering prayers here, the visiting public move to the shrine, lying left called Kappe Cheenigaraya. It is a two - cell shrine, housing Venugopala and Kesava. This is equally enticing and the stone cutter's artistry adorns every inch here. There is another shrine dedicated to Saumyanayaki built by Devi Santala, the queen-consort. It is a temple with difference. Unlike the others including the main mandir, it has Vimana-tower over garbhagriha which is invariably found in South Indian Temples. Though small comparatively, its sculptural wealth in the form of images, like Vishnu, Siva, Brahma, Parvathi Bairavi and Saraswati deserves attention and whole-hearted veneration. Along with these there are some more shrines dedicated to Alwars, like Sri Ramanuja, Andal, Vedantadesika and Manavalamamuni. The temple Pushkarini known as Vasudevasaras is located to the north-east of the main shrine.

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