Masterpieces of Hoysala Art: Belur, Halebid, Somnathpur (An Old and Rare Book)

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Some time in the eleventh century A.D. the Hoysalas, who were then feudatories of the Later Chalukyas of Kalyani, became independent and founded a dynasty of their own, with their capital at Dvarasamudra, now called Halebid. There,- in the Karnataka region, they built many temples, the best known being the Hoysalesvara temple at Halebid, the Chenna Kesava temple at Belur, and the Kesava temple at Somnathpur. The Hoysala temples are not noted for their architectural merit, although some innovations were introduced. But for their sculptural craftsmanship, the exuberance of their plastic art, they are unrivalled as the many plates in this book will show.

In this book, the author first deals with the basic concept of Indian art, especially the art of the Hoysalas, and then goes on to deal in detail with their temples at Belur, Halebid, and Somnathpur.

Figure sculpture secular and religious- abounds in Hoysala sculpture. Gods and god- desses are everywhere, together with dancers and musicians and celestial beauties in alluring poses. Therefore, the author has devoted one full chapter to the gods and goddesses of the Hoysala temples. This will enable the visitor to the Hoysala sites to appreciate the figure sculpture with a greater understanding.

The notes on the plates are very important as here each plate in the book has been described in full and all relevant details given for the serious reader.

This is a book for the lover of the beautiful- the beauty of sculpture in stone and the supreme craftsmanship of the Hoysala sculptor and stone mason. This is a book to be studied studied more than once, its over hundred superb plates looked at again and again, for each time new beauty will seem to appear and its hundred plates glow with a greater and greater sense of fascinating perfection. Did the skill of the Hoysala stone carver come from some other planet, as Dr. Eric von Daniken would have us believe? It would almost seem so.

I have for long been fascinated by the temple architecture of South India and its lure finally succeeded in making me visit in May 1975 the Hoysala temples at Halebid, Belur, Somnathpur, Kedareswara, Lakshmidevi, Kirtinarayana, Harihara, Someswara, Pan- chalinga, Pandmanava, and many others. In spite of the ravages of time and the utter indifference of our people, more than two dozen temples still retain a large degree of their early glory. In particular I shall always cherish the memory of the magnificent Mahanata Shiva at Halebid, which radiates a wide variety of impressions to the visitor. As in the Puranas and in the Epics, among all other gods, He is of a colourful character.