Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Nuggehalli

The SOUTH NICHE - FACE  8 The temple is provided with three single storied niches, one each on the south, west and north. They are carved like beautiful temples. They act as buttresses against the central tower of the temple. The photo above is that of the South niche. On the door jambs of this temple-like niche are seen the DWAARAPALAKAS also. All the other parts of a temple are provided too. The figures on the niche walls are small for want of space. Inside the niche is seen an aaseena DURGAA ( zoom to see ). VARAAHA wih consorts The left wall of the niche has an aaseena VARAAHA with consorts ( see the photo above ). Aaaseena NARASIMHA The right wall of the niche has an aaseena NARASIMHA ( see the photo above ).

Face 7 of the wall Note : All the images are identified from your right to left. The images are : 1. GOVARDHANADHAARI. On the pedestal is a Kannada inscription which reads : HARI BIRIDA ROOVAARI GIRIVAJRADANDA VIRIDA PRASAADI MASTAKASHOOLA ROOVAARI NANDIYA BAICHOJA MAADIDA SRI SRI SRI ( ಹರಿ ಬಿರಿದ ರೂವಾರಿ ಗಿರಿ ವಜ್ರ ದಂಡ ವಿರಿದ ಪ್ರಸಾದಿ ಮಸ್ತಕ ಶೊಲ ರೂವಾರಿ ನಂದಿಯ ಬೈಚೋಜ ಮಾಡಿದ ರೂವಾರಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಶ್ರೀ ಶ್ರೀ ) meaning that it is the work of BAICHOJA of NANDI. 2. UGRA NARASIMHA with GARUDA ( ಗರುಡ ) to his left, LAKSHMEE ( ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ) to his right and PRAHLADA below. 3. HRISHEEKESHA ( ಹೃಷಿಕೇಶ ) ( C - P - S - G ) the tenth of the twenty-four forms of VISHNU ( ವಿಷ್ಣು )

FACE 6 : FIRST PART Note : All the images are identified from your right to left. The photo above is the first part of FACE 6 of the central wall. The images are : 1. TRIVIKRAMA ( ತ್ರಿವಿಕ್ರಮ ) ( G - C - S - P ) on the projected portion.To his left is a NAGA-KANYE holding a jewelled necklace. 2. BHAIRAVA with a goblin to his left. FACE 6 : SECOND PART The above photo is the second part of FACE 6. The images are : 1. Shadbhuja (six armed ) DURGAA ( ದುರ್ಗಾ ) dancing with skeleton body. A goblin is seen to her right. 2. VAAMANA ( C - G - P - S ) the eighth of the chaturvimshati murtis. 3. SREEDHARA ( ಶ್ರೀಧರ ) ( C - G - S - P ), the ninth of the Chaturvimshati murtis. 4. Two monkeys fighting for a fruit.

Face 5 of the wall Note : All the images are identified from your right to left. 1. HARIHARA also called SHANKARANAARAAYANA. He is a fusion of HARI and HARA. He is seen holding a TRISHOOLA ( trident ) in his right upper hand ( HARA ) and a CHAKRA ( disc ) in his left upper hand ( HARI ). 2. MADHUSOODANA ( S - P - G - C ), the sixth of the CHATURVIMSHATI MOORTIS. To his right is his consort ( KAMALAALAYA ) holding a PAASHA and KALASHA. 3. TRIVIKRAMA with his right leg lifted. 4. VAAMANA receiving gift from BALI. SHUKRA standing to the right of BALI.

Face 4 of the wall Note : All the images are identified from your right to left. 1. AMARANAARAAYANA or PARAVAASUDEVA seated on ANANTA. On the pedestal is the Kannada inscription : SRI AADIMOORTI DEVARANU NANDIYA BAICHOJA MAADIDA KANDIRE ( ಶ್ರೀ ಆದಿ ಮೂರ್ತಿ ದೇವರನು ನಂದಿಯ ಬೈಚೋಜ ಮಾಡಿದ ಕಂಡಿರೆ ). Below the god are GARUDA ( ಗರುಡ ), PRAHLAADA, and the other gods. 2. GOVINDA (G - P - S - C ), the fourth form of VISHNU with a consort to his right. 3. YOGAANARASIMHA with two consorts. GARUDA ( ಗರುಡ ) and PRAHLAADA below. 4. VISHNU ( P - S - C - G ) with consort. 5. Aaseena Chaturbhuja VARADARAAJA ( abhaya hasta, chakra, shankha and daana hasta ).

MUDRA is a sign. It is usually a symbolic gesture of hands and fingers. There are two types of MUDRAS namely ONE HANDED MUDRAS called ASAMYUKTA ( ಅಸಂಯುಕ್ತ ) or KEVALA ( ಕೇವಲ ) MUDRAS; and TWO HANDED MUDRAS called SAMYUKTA ( ಸಂಯುಕ್ತ ) MUDRAS. Mudras again may be SAANKETIKA ( ಸಾಂಕೇತಿಕ ), VASTUROOPA, and AAYUDHAGRAHANA ( ಆಯುಧಗ್ರಹಣ ). ABHAYAMUDRA, VARADA (DAANA) MUDRA and VYAAKHYAANA MUDRA are the most popular SAANKETIKA MUDRAS. In ABHAYA MUDRA the right palm fingers point upwards assuring protection.  In VARADAMUDRA the fingers point downwards and in VYAAKHYAANAMUDRA the right hand fingers are held as while teaching or explaining. SAANKETIKA MUDRAS are single hand mudras. In the VASTUROOPA MUDRAS some thing is held in the hands. SARASVATI playing the VEENA or SHIVA holding the DAMARU ( ಡಮರು ) are examples of VASTUROOPA MUDRAS. The AAYUDHA MUDRAS are those where the god holds an object such as PAASHA ( rope ), or ANKUSHA ( hook ) as in the case of GANAPATI.

Face 3 of the wall Note : All the images are identified from your right to left. 1. DOLOTSAVA ( ಡೋಲೋತ್ಸವ ) - Probably KRISHNA with consort being swung on a swing-board hung with ropes from a beam supported by two plantain trees. Monkeys are seen playing on the TORANAS ( ತೋರಣಗಳು ) 2. RATI and MANMATHA. To their right is seen a horse - headed musician carrying betel bags. 3. MAADHAVA ( C - S - P - G ) with LAKSHMEE holding flower bunches to his left. 4. ASHTABHUJA TAANDAVA GANAPATI ( holding in his hands tusk, chakra, parashu, shankha, padma and apoopa; and the the other two hands are in the SWARGAH ASTA and LAMBA HASTA posture ). Ganapati's Vaahana, the MOUSE and musicians with their musical instruments ( look at the MRIDANGA ) are seen below.

The plan of the temple divides the external walls into 19 Faces. Of these, a part of the first and the nineteenth Faces have been concealed by later constructions. Seventeen Faces are therefore fully visible. The temple faces east and the Faces are counted moving clockwise from the east keeping the temple wall to the right. The photo below is that of the SECOND FACE. Face 2 of the wall Note : All the images are identified from your right to left. 1. Bearded BRAHMA standing on a lotus. To his right is a woman with CHAMARA. 2. NAARAAYANA ( P - G - C - S ). 3. MOHINI dancing, with DAKSHINAMURTI to her right. He wears a KULAAVI ( ಕುಲಾವಿ ) cap, long coat, and sandals, and also holds a DANDA ( ದಂಡ ) and CHAKRA.

It may be noted that all the 24 forms of VISHNU are : STHAANAKA ( standing in posture ) ; SAMASTHAANAKA ( without bends ) ; SHAANTA or SAUMYA VAKTRA( pacific in countenance ) ; and CHATURBHUJA ( four armed ). They have a tall crown, a VANAMAALA ...( garland of wild flowers ) and KAUSTUBHA MANI ( Kaustubha gem ) on the chest. They are also bedecked with with ornaments like wristlets, armlets, necklaces and earpieces. A picture of ANIRUDDHA ( sixteenth form of VISHNU ) is also posted below for a closer study of the iconographical features of the Chaturvimshatimurtis. ANIRUDDHA ( G - S - P - C ) on the wall of the temple under study

The central walls of the temple under study have 75 large images. These include the twenty-four classical forms of VISHNU popularly known as the CHATURVIMSHATI MURTIS. VISHNU ( see the photo below ) is four armed and in each of his hands holds a weapon. In his upper right hand is Lotus i.e., PADMA ( P ), in his upper left hand is Conch i.e., SHANKHA ( S ), in his lower left hand is Discus i.e., CHAKRA ( C ) and in his lower right hand is Mace i.e., GADAA ( G ). These four weapons can be arranged in 24 different ways ( 4 Factorial ) and each different arrangement represents a different form of VISHNU. The order in which the arrangement is to be noticed is : upper right hand, upper left hand, lower left hand and lower right hand. The 24 forms of VISHNU are : Keshava, Narayana, Madhava, Govinda, Vishnu, Madhusudana, Trivikrama, Vamana, Sridhara, Hrishikesha, Padmanabha, Damodara, Sankarshana,Vasudeva, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Purushottama, Adhokshaja, Narasimha, Achyuta, Janardana,

The central portion of the external walls of the temple is adorned with the images of gods and goddesses. The images are beautiful and well proportioned. Most of the images are STHAANAKA ( ಸ್ಥಾನಕ ) i.e., STANDING in posture while some are AASEENA ( ಆಸೀನ ) i.e., in SITTING posture. The images on the southern wall are carved by BAICHOJA ( ಬೈಚೋಜ ) while those on the northern wall are the works of MALLITAMMA ( ಮಲ್ಲಿತಮ್ಮ ). What is very interesting about these images is the fact that the the two sculptors have inscribed their names below most of the images that they have carved. Look at the AASEENA AMARANAARAAYA NA ( ಆಸೀನ ಅಮರನಾರಾಯಣ ) below now. Zoom it and on the pedestal you find the Kannada inscription SRI AADIMOORTI DEVARANU NANDIYA BAICHOJA MAADIDA KANDIRE ( ಶ್ರೀ ಆದಿ ಮೂರ್ತಿ ದೇವರನು ನಂದಿಯ ಬೈಚೋಜ ಮಾಡಿದ ಕಂಡಿರೆ )meaning that it is the work of BAICHOJA of NANDI. AMARANAARAYANA on the Southern wall The ASHTABHUJA NAATYA LAKSHMI ( ಅಷ್ಟಭುಜ ನಾಟ್ಯ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ ), (eight armed da