Lakshmi Devi Temple – Doddagaddavalli

Hoysala Architechtures

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Once Kullahana Rahuta, a merchant and his wife, founded Doddagaddavalli along with the temple of Mahalakshmi. In 1113 AD, this temple was built during the realm of Hoysala Vishnuvardhana. This temple is the only instance of Chatushkuta that means a four-shrined type of temple, that was built during the Hoysala reign.

This Lakshmi Devi Temple has four shrines situated in four directions. Each of these shrines is connected through a Sukanasi with the common Navaranga. Among these four shrines, the shrine of Devi Lakshmi faces the east, the shrine of Lord Shiva faces the west, the shrine of Goddess Kali faces the north, and the shrine of Lord Vishnu faces the south. Except for the shrine of Devi Lakshmi, the other shrines are made in a stepped pyramidal variety of the Kadamba Nagara style. In Belur also, this Lakshmidevi Temple has a significant religious influence.

The tower, placed over the shrine of Devi Lakshmi is Dvitala vimana and is topped by a stone finial and sikhara. All of these four towers maintain the Mahanasa projection, which was crowned by the earliest instances of the Hoysala Royal Emblem. A stone wall surrounds the entire structure of this temple, and there you also will see a Dwara Mandapa with a patio from the south.

The main Temple faces the east with a large image of Goddess Lakshmi, which is enshrined in the Sanctorum. In the complex of the Lakshmidevi Temple, you can see four cloisters that face each other. These four cloisters are situated in the common hall of this temple. These cloisters include both the deities of Lakshmi, Kali, Shiva, and Vishnu.

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