MOOKAMBIKAI KOIL KOLLUR

SOMANATHAPUR 

Yet there is another outstanding gem of a sculptured temple lying at a distance of 45 Km of Mysore, going by the name of Somanathpur. This shrine has many things in common with those of universally reputed Belur and Halebid temples of the Hoyasalas gift to the world. Though it partakes many artistic features of Belur temple such as friezes around, bearing several representations of divinities Narasimha, Varaha, Venugopala, Brahma, Siva, Ganapathy, Surya, Manmatha, Lakshmi, it is a three-celled shrine typifying the Trikutachala - three peaked hill, a unique development found in the Hoyasala monuments built after Belur model.

This Prasanna Kesava temple was built by Somanatha, the grand son of Hoyalsala Narasimha II in 1269. As at Belur and Haledid, it stands on a high plinth. but With a difference - it has beautifully carved gigantic elephants at the corners, seem to be holding aloft the entire structure. The wall is embellished with more than 175 sculptural images similar to those of Belur and Halebidu figures in finish, elegance and opulence. The temple is star-shaped and has high towers unlike its counterparts. Its superstructure comprises three pyramidal towers, surmounting the triple shrines-a novelty not found in models of this type. Its sculptural wealth, being modeled on those illustrious ones, and built later, seems far surpassing them in everything. The presiding deity of the central cell is Prasanna Kesava, and those found on the north and south enshrine the images of Janardhana and Gopala.

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