Dr. Meera Iyer: Architectural Alterations in Hoysala Temples The temples built during the period of the Hoysalas, a dynasty that ruled large parts of southern India from the 11th – 14th centuries, are known for their exceptionally rich, profuse and intricate figural carving. Two of the earliest such temples are the Chennakeshava temple in Belur and the Hoysalesvara temple in Halebidu, built in the early years of the 12th century. Both these temples underwent several modifications within a century of being constructed, including the additions of decorative stone screens, lintels and brackets. Some of these modifications to the temples were documented in lithic inscriptions. A close examination of discontinuities in the temples’ decorative schemes and sculptures points to several other likely architectural alterations and modifications in both these temples. This talk explores some of these additions to the two temples and the possible reasons that may have prompted them. https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/events/dr-meera-iyer-architectural-alterations-in-hoysala-temples https://www.uni-bonn.de/++resource++plone-logo.svg

The temples built during the period of the Hoysalas, a dynasty that ruled large parts of southern India from the 11th – 14th centuries, are known for their exceptionally rich, profuse and intricate figural carving. Two of the earliest such temples are the Chennakeshava temple in Belur and the Hoysalesvara temple in Halebidu, built in the early years of the 12th century. Both these temples underwent several modifications within a century of being constructed, including the additions of decorative stone screens, lintels and brackets. Some of these modifications to the temples were documented in lithic inscriptions. A close examination of discontinuities in the temples’ decorative schemes and sculptures points to several other likely architectural alterations and modifications in both these temples. This talk explores some of these additions to the two temples and the possible reasons that may have prompted them.