About
This place is described as Ekachakranagara of Mahabharata and is said to be the place where Pandava prince Bheema killed the demon Bakasura and protected the village and its people.
It was built in the 13th century by the Hoysala King Veera Bhallala II and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in three different forms. While Belur and Halebid are famous for their intricate sculpture, this temple is one of the best examples of Hoysala architecture. The west side of the temple consists of a square garbhagriha, a sukanasi, Ranga mandapa and square maha mantapa. The whole structure has been constructed on a raised platform. The entire temple is built out of soapstone and is believed that this temple was constructed in two phases. The temple is in tribute style (three vimanas) with Sri Veera Narayana in the center facing east, Sri Venugopala facing north and Sri Yoganarasimha facing south. The shrines of Lord Krishna and Lord Narayana were added later on.
The entrance to the temple is majestic and has two carved elephants on either side of the gateway. The older shrine is in the center, while the two other shrines face each other across a long Mandapa. The Ranga mandapa of Veera Narayana shrine has beautiful bell-shaped pillars and a well-decorated roof. The outer walls of the temple have beautifully carved pilasters with decorative towers on top. The main shrine has an 8 feet tall image of Veera Narayana with four hands which is considered one of the best examples of Hoysala art.
The two newer shrines are connected by an open Mandapa.
These two shrines have different plans. One is square while the other is star-shaped. The vimanas, the Sukanasi, and the outer walls are covered with intricately carved sculptures. The northern shrine has a 7 feet tall idol of Yoganarasimha in a sitting posture, holding Shanka and Chakra, with Sridevi and Bhoodevi standing on either side. The southern shrine has a wonderful 8 feet image of Venugopala playing the flute. On either side of Venugopala stand Rukmini and Satyabhama. This is one of the most beautiful Krishna sculptures.
Festivals at Veera Narayana Temple
Abhishekam – Along with elaborate worship, abhishekam is offered to the deities on the day of their special worship, at least once a month. There are other festivals, birthdays, and yearly festivals which are celebrated. Abhishekam is offered on every one of these occasions. Apart from that if the devotees want to offer abhishekam they donate the ingredients to be used in it or donate the money allocated for it to the temple and the head priest offers the abhishekam to the deity on the behalf of the devotee. The monthly abhishekam is also called pakshotsavam.
Kumbhabhishekam – While abhishekam of all three deities is done at least once every month and many other times during the year, during various yearly festivals, every twelve years an abhishekam bigger than all others is offered. It is called Kumbhabhishekam. It is a huge form of abhishekam. Just like the Kumbh Mela, it comes every 12 years. It is a sort of re-consecration of the murti, the temple deity. All the mistakes in worship that are done in the preceding 12 years are said to be eliminated in this re-consecration which purifies the image and makes it fit for the dwelling of the deity.
Like all great Hindu temples, the Veera Narayana Temple, Belavadi also celebrates many festivals around the year. The four biggest festivals which are celebrated in the Veera Narayana Temple, Belavadi are:
● Krishna Janmashtami – As it is a Vaishnava temple and one of the shrines houses the image of Venugopala, the form of Krishna playing flute, the festival of Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated with great gusto in the month of Bhadrapada, generally falling in August.
● Narasimha Jayanti – It is celebrated on the fourteenth day in the bright fortnight of the Vaishakha month (Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdasi).
● Rath Yatra – The great festival of the temple, celebrated on the Chaitra Purnima, falls six days after Ram Navmi. It is a huge festival of Veera Narayana Belavadi temple.
● Rath Saptami – This festival falls in the Bhadrapada month during August or September and is a big festival.
● Nityagnihotram – The priest says that in Belavdi in ancient times there were around 300 Brahmin families in the village. They performed Yajna twice every day. This is called Nityagnihotram. But during the Muslim invasions, this tradition frittered away due to the lack of patrons whose livelihoods were destroyed by the Islamic invasions. The priest testifies to the destruction of the Hindu heritage by the Islamic invasions.
● Other seasonal festivals that are celebrated at the Veera Narayana temple are Shravan Puja and Kartik Utsava.
Timings to Visit
8 AM to 7:30 PM
Time Duration to visit : 01:00 Hrs
How To Reach
By Air: Bengaluru international airport – 259 km, Mangalore airport – 178 km
By Train: Kadur – 39.1 km and Birur – 42.5 km
By Road: Belur KSRTC Bus Stand – 27.5, Halebidu – 12.1 km.
Address
Veera Narayana Temple,Belavadi, Chikmagalur, Karnataka – 570018, India.
Also Read Places to visit in Karnataka
Post Discussion