STATES AND UNION TERRITORIES OF INDIA
KARNATAKA
Somnathpur
The
Prasanna Chenna Kesava Temple is situated in the village of Somnathpur,
35 kms. from Mysore. It was constructed in 1268 A.D. by Soma Dandanayaka,
a minister in the court of the Hoysala king Narasimha III, in the typical
Hoysala style with star-shaped base, three shrines with towers.
The main idol
of Kesava is missing, but the idols of Janardana and Venugopal can be seen
in the northern & southern cells. There are a total of 64 cells
in the pillared corridors.
There is an
abundance of carvings on the outer walls, intricately carved rows of caparisoned
elephants, charging horsemen and annapakshi, mythological birds and beasts.
The interior is eaully abundantly adorned by beautifully sculpted images
of gods, goddesses, life history of the Hoysala kings, scenes from the
epics Ramayana, Mahabaratha and Bhagavatha.
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