The Adhishthaana

ADHISHTHAANA ( ಅಧಿಷ್ಠಾನ )

The picture above is the ADHISHTHAANA (ಅಧಿಷ್ಠಾನ) of the LAKSHMI NARASIMHA TEMPLE at Nuggehalli.

The outer walls of a Hoysala Temple are of three types namely :

• Plain walls;

• Plain walls with pilasters, niches and turrets bearing miniature shikharas;  and

• Very ornate walls.

Irrespective of the ornamental details, the WALL PROPER of a Hoysala temple can be divided into three vertical sections namely : the BANDS or the PATTIKAS (ಪಟ್ಟಿಕೆಗಳು) at the base, the WALL PROPER (from the top of the basement to the eaves) and the PARAPET. The lowest part of the wall proper is called ADHISHTAANA or AADHAARA (ಆಧಾರ) i.e., BASEMENT. It comprises of five to eight bands or PATTIKAS (ಪಟ್ಟಿಕೆಗಳು) and are laid one above the other. They are usually separated by deep recesses.

The ADHISHTAANA of the temple under study has six PATTIKAS (ಪಟ್ಟಿಕೆಗಳು) with friezes. At the bottom is the ELEPHANT FRIEZE (ಆನೆ ಪಟ್ಟಿಕೆ). The elephants are caparisoned and have two men on their backs. They are playing with their trunks and in some cases fighting each other. Above the row of elephants is a FRIEZE OF CAVALRY (in this panel camels are also found). Some of the horses can be found cantering forward. Above the frieze of Cavalry is the CREEPER SCROLL i.e., LATAA PATTIKE (ಲತಾ ಪಟ್ಟಿಕೆ) with lion faces in the corners and buds, flowers etc in the convolutions. Above the Scroll Frieze is the MYTHOLOGICAL FRIEZE i.e., the PAURAANIKA PATTIKE (ಪೌರಾಣಿಕ ಪಟ್ಟಿಕೆ), which runs round the temple narrating the story of BHAAGAVATA (ಭಾಗವತ). The fifth row from the bottom is the MAKARA FRIEZE (ಮಕರ ಪಟ್ಟಿಕೆ) (MAKARA is a mythical animal) and in the topmost row can be seen SWANS (HAMSA PATTIKE) (ಹಂಸ ಪಟ್ಟಿಕೆ) in their natural moods.