"BHANDARA BASTI: CLIMAX OF THE HOYSALA ARTS"

In this show of our documentary travelogue on Steemit, "Bharat Darshan: exploring the unexplored", Sukhnidhey Films (www.sukhnidhey.com) takes you 1000 years back in time to ancient Karnataka, when the Hoysala dynasty ruled over most of the region.

The Hoysala rulers were great patrons of art and architecture; in fact many scholars regard the Hoysala architecture to be completely different an architectural form in its own; the same applies to the Hoysala arts. The Hoysala period sculptors paid a lot of attention to every single exquisite detail while crafting their exuberant sculptures.

You might have heard of the world's largest monolithic statue of Gomateshwar in Shravanbelagola. However, did you know, downhill in this town lie some ancient, forgotten Jain temples, which have some of the finest specimens of the Hoysala arts, sculptures, and architecture in the whole world. We explore the "Bhandara Basti" where the word "basti" or "basandi" means a temple in local folklore.

Bhandara basadi was built by Hullayya, the chief treasurer of the Hoysala king Narsimha I, nearly 850 years ago in 1159 A.D. From the outside, the temple exhibits distinct features of Hoysala architecture in the beautiful and finely crafted vimana or the shikhara, rigid supporting pillars, etc. As we enter the magnificient Saraswati Mantapa, a later addition to the temple built by Devappa in Vijayanagara style.

There are 12 pillars, 6 on each side, surrounding the passage to the Garbhgriha, or the Sanctum sanctorum of the beautiful temple. On the lintel of the navrang entrance lies a panel, considered to be the most exquisite specimen of Hoysala art in the whole world: the sculpture of the dancing Indra, the Indian god of war and rain, and the king of the devas, the "Devraja".

Devraja Indra's expressions in dancing, his exquisite jewellery in the form of his rings, necklaces, etc, his swords and bows, have all been crafted to such perfection that the sculpture almost emerges out of rock. Truly, the sculptor has infused life in the sculpture of the dancing Indra. The panel actually is a "makartorana", or a crocodile entrance decoration gateway, which marks one's entry into the main temple interior, the sanctum sanctorum.

Two beautifully crafted "makaras" or crocodile like creatures can be clearly seen, as can the "Simhamukha" or the lion-face, so characteristic of Hoysala architecture and arts found on several Hoysala temples as an intricately sculptured motif, an embellishment. Devraj Indra dances to the tune of flutes and percussion instruments being played by artists as shown.

Also depicted is a Jain tirthankara meditating the lower portion of the panel. The panel, undoubtedly, justifies the title of "Gometpur ka Bhushana", or the "Jewel of Gometeshwar (Shravanbelagola", as conferred upon this temple in an ancient rock-edict found here.

The dancing Indra makartorana leaves one extraordinarily awe-inspired; a feeling which words fail to express. Such was the glory of the Hoysala arts.

Next, as we enter the Sanctum sanctorum, we see a "Rangoli", a traditional South Indian one, being made. Rangolis have been an intricate part of Indian culture and folklore since very ancient times; the colourful rangolis serve as welcome symbols to Gods and Goddesses when they are made in temples and houses.

Another exquisite feature of Bhandara Basti is the presence of exquisitely sculptured idols of all 24 Jain tirthankara, placed in the garbhagriha in a straight line. Measuring 8.5 feet by 3 feet each, the idols are an example of excellent workmanship, another attribute of the Hoysala arts. The "Kirtimukha", like the Simhamukha, is an embellishment on the makartoranas forming the top of each idol. Pictured on either side of each idol are the Yakshas and the Yakshis, the guardian deities of the tirthankaras in Jainism.

Every year, between the months of March to April, the "Rathotsava" or the Car Festival is organized at the place with great pomp and show.

Indeed, Bhandara Basti has it all to leave you deeply awe-inspired at the glory and the timeless beauty of the Hoysala arts; the intricate details and the very fine work melting in stone in the ancient temple, the place where the Hoysala arts reach their very climax.

So, hold your breath, tighten your seat belts and come along with us as we take you to this exciting and forgotten place, gather and document historical evidences on this enchanting journey, studying the architectural features and critically examining the events as described in the ancient Indian texts, and as we see them first hand.

"BHARAT DARSHAN: exploring the unexplored", every Thursday at 12 pm EST on Steemit