LORD HOYALESWARA OF HALEBIDU

THE SOUTHERN KEDARA

Besides this double shrine there is another worth-seeing small temple dedicated to Kedareswara, but in ruins. It was modelled after the Kedareswara temple at Balagami and was reverentially called Dakshana Kedara, the northern one being situated in the Himalayas. This was built in honour of the family deity of Padmala Devi, the queen consort of Ballala II, the grand son of Vishnu vardana, the builder of Belur temple. It is a perfect and exquisite specimen of Hoyasala architecture. On account of a pipal tree that sprouted from the central tower, the entire structure came to ground level. Does this not reflect the ways of the ingrate among mankind? For giving some negligible space for the seed, the grown-up agressive huge pipal tree mercilessly reduced the host structure to a heap of dismal ruin. Who outgrown whom in nobility - tree over man, or man over tree? This was a three - celled shrine called Trikutachala - three peaked hill, characteristic of Hoyasala monuments. The outer walls contain 175 sculptural images with elephants at the corners of the plinth giving the appearance of holding aloft the whole temple. A grand conception! A beautiful execution! And an invaluable relief!!!

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