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“HOYSALA EMPIRE”
“A TIGER PROVINCE OF SOUTH INDIA”
A GREEN STATE OF KING VISHNUVARDHANA
Story of a green emperor of Kannada Nadu who not only loved nature but was also
fascinated by natural mode of Jaina thinking and green style of Shaiva living.
A King who founded Hoysala Kingdom, an empire connoisseur of a lion, a tiger specialist land of elephant abundance, a
green king who dreamt about a Kannada Nadu, a virgin land of pristine nature, to develop Hoysala empire further on
natural lines. Hoysala Empire which was erected on edifice of a Tiger coined by Lords of Malay, by the “Gods of Hilly
Rains” amidst fertile river valleys of Kaveri and Tungabhadra, inspiring thousands of forest dwellers of agrarian life style,
setting them for seeking job opportunities, introducing a strong network of irrigation, connecting thousands of tanks,
reservoirs, canals and wells for greening the earth. The epoch making empire where vishvakarma architects together with
quarry workers built redundant string of Shaiva temples and Jain monasteries in and around Belur, Halebidu, symbolizing
Hindu style of green living, where thousands of sculptors spent their life in carving out images and figurines on temples, on
shrines, in admiration of animals in wild, where goldsmiths toiled day and day out in production of jewelry punched in
flora and fauna, where thousands of merchants relentlessly worked constantly in exporting timber, forest products, aloe,
sandalwood, spices, condiments, medicinal plants, ebony and camphor to China, Egypt, Arabia, Persia, Cairo and
Alexandria across Arabian Seas the world over. Hoysala emperor, a Jain monk, Vishnuvardhana, admiringly called by
people as Bittideva, who converted to a disciple of Shiva. A king who labored unremittingly patronizing the art,
architecture and literature striking a deal in an enterprise as to how to live being one with nature, being one with Jain, being
one with natural god the Vishnu and also being one with Siva, the green God…A K Singh

“Oh the king, victorious holy man of Hoysala, you ride renouncement of the attachment to the objects, to the
an elephant, as high as mountain, retaining an army of places and to the people. The values enshrined in
large throngs of brave warriors. Banners and buntings righteous practice of Jainism. Vishnuvardhana as a Jain
of your legion waver high in the sky. When you gaze in monk was born to Ballala I in 1108 AD. He believed in
fury and anger, it ignites fire, passion and excitement. the outlook of Mahvira Jain when he ascended Hoysala
When you look with sympathy and benevolence, throne. Vishnu always
gold and diamonds blaze around. You triumph in all accredited Jain spirit of
battles, wild, brutal and ferocious. As you invade the conquering one’s inner
lands of enemies, shooting stars fell upon heavens of passions of attachment, of
all earth. Tree, shrubs and bushes sprinkle with desire, of anger, of pride, of
leaves and colorful flowers. Birds and fowls in the greed, therefore being
jungle squeak in fragrant mood of jubilation and omniscient about his own jina
applause. Animals in wild take a sigh of relief in the conscience. Vishnu was
optimism and merriment. Workers in the fields wish lovingly called as Bittideva for
to grow fine yield and dream to harvest bounty he once trounced one robber
crops”. Saints in the shrines chant Ved mantras huntsman Bittiiga at Belur
untiringly exploring truth, untruth, pure, impure, driving back with his sword
dualism and non dualism. Into that heaven made Hoysala legendry King pursuing and capturing
feasible by Hoysala King the Vishnuvardhana we elephants, daring in unrivalled
Belur mastery over taming and
live in harmony with all; wild and civilized, aquatic
or terrestrial, desolate or crazy” said one poet in his winning the scuffles and clashes with wild beasts. Once
praise. mythical warrior Sala overpowered a lion cracking
Vishnu a boy influenced with a legendary icon of down upon him striking with sword, raging the animal
to the ground for saving his Jain guru Sudatta near
Hoysala was enlightened in Jain idea of thought by his
goddess temple of Vasantika in Angadi from the attack,
gurus since childhood that there is a joy of living in
as the pontiff who was laboring consumed in deep in
being with nature, in being one with God. Vishnu in
meditation. Striking with sword sounded as hoy in
early age came to know that the happiness comes with
Kannada, thereupon coined the term Hoysala, which
some vows to be sworn in. The pleasure of routine of
king Vishnuvardhana adopted a “Sala striking Tiger” as
life comes in observing some scruples by non violence
his Hoysala emblem after his victory over Chola empire
in action, by soft speech and by spiritual thoughts, in
in Talakad. Thus laid the foundation of Tiger Province.
speaking truth, in being away from collecting material,
in daily living a disciplined life of celibacy, in King Vishnuvardhana waging a war on Chola in 1116
exercising control over sexual indulgence, in some declared,” O my ablest cousins ! Belur is a pleasure hub
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of pristine woodland in the surroundings. We are large the temperate climate of Kannada Nadu amidst misty
family of this land, starved in ambition, driven by hills of malenadu.
thrusting aspiration to expand our province, with strong “My loving friends ! screamed Vishnu, “I have been
desire to get gifts of horses, robust bull elephants and importing horses, taming elephants, pulling tigers and
natural wealth of surrounding natives waiting for us, tugging lions to be the servant of this nation to defend
like a dry forests embarking on a heavy rains with malicious clouds with thunder and lightening soaring on
thunder and lightening. You will receive showers of wider skies of Hoysala kingdom. Where rich woods of
splendors, if you hold sway on Nilgiri, Kongu, and teak, honne, nandi and matthi speckle this part of the
Cholas reigning at Talakad affluent in natural wealth earth with flourishing business through Kerala overseas.
and opulence. That’s how I sealed a treaty with Kongu Where merchants from China, Egypt, Arabia , Persia,
king marrying his daughter Shantala Devi a beautiful Greece and Rome swarm like bees humming all around
princess of unique nation rich in woods and resources.”. ravishing streets and markets trading in spices,
Vishnuvardhana expanded his empire subjugating medicines, precious stones, fabric, pottery, salt, jewels,
Pallavas of Kanchi, Kadambas of Banavasi and Pandyas gold, ivory, ebony, aloe, perfume, sandal, camphor and
of Uchchangi upto Tungabhadra and thus became the condiments. Where sky pours with
“Master of Kerala” and the “Lord of Talakad desire to be loyal to the king.
controlling one of the natural resource rich province of Where architects with their novel
south India. He subdued Kalyani Chalukas and layouts and designs untiringly are
marched north of Tungabhadra upto Lakundi and occupied in orienting the erection
performed Tulapurusha ceremony marking his of temples, shrines and sanctuaries.
sovereignty over almost whole of Karnataka in 1131 Where sculptors with their
CE. He transferred his capital from Belur to Helebid. hammers and chisel keep on
Once Nripakama quoted Amoghvarsha from his works tinkering effigies of Gods, demons
of Kavirajmarga as saying, “ No fairer land you will and animals throughout their lives
find, in whole circle of earth, than the sweet Kannada for generations together fiddling
Nadu, which voices the people’s mind, between sacred with the carvings in birds, fowls,
rivers Tungabhdra to Godavari, where pilgrim rests his beasts, brute and monsters on
eyes on the bank of Kaveri. Where people of the land facades and pilasters of so many
speak in rhythmic tone. Kannada people are swift to Hoysala King Hoysala temples and monestries.
grasp a poet’s thought, they are very kind and Vishnuvardhan 1148 Where quarry workers keep toying
truthful. Their folk by with schist and soapstones chiseling on
instinct use and understand lathe pillars, molding motifs of deities
the folk songs”. During his and madanika. Where goldsmiths
reign a mystifying 1500 unremittingly had been working to
temples were built at 950 notch beautiful swans, ducks and
locations of which only 68 parakeets on jewels and ornaments.
still continue to endure the Such is the kingdom of Hoysala
test of time. unruffled and tranquil, which brings
Vishnu once cried, “this glory, brilliance and grandeur to the
country is bejeweled with Kannada nadu”.
green crest of lofty In the early morning, dawn breaks at
mountains. Forests of Belur large. Sun rays dash against elephant
and Talakad are cuffed with Façade of Hoysala Belur Temple 1134 AD balustrade, rise on the ranks of
wild of the wildest beasts. Halebid’s wilderness is iconic lion parapets. Beam of
buffeted with plenty of beautiful birds, antelopes and sunlight set upon the deity of Vishnu or Shiva or Jain
deers. Land where leaves of red banana trees splash, Mahavir. Hordes of devotees consecrate to perform
growing on ramps and slants, waver in the wind and rub worship in the back drop of red earth. The soil of the
against the march pasting elephants. Be proud to be the earth of Hoysalas is crafted in irrigation tanks, is built
citizen of this country, where men dare to play lovingly in reservoirs hewn with sluices, canals and wells makes
in waterfalls, pull blue water lilies in springs. Where in the holy land green, fertile and productive. Land her is
groves with intense fragrance, swarms of honey-bee so prolific and fecund that a gentle deer embracing her
chisel the sky buzzing and hovering around scented fawn, drinks and relax with her decent stag with warped
Sampige flowers. Wooden trees that our cousins seeded antlers in the shade of mahua tree. Colorful flowers
in the huge mountains have grown luxuriantly like bedeck every inch of forests, peacocks dance with tone
sugarcanes in the fields”. Hoysala empire with the of whirling winds. Stripes of sand on Cauvery river
centers of administration at Belur, Halebid and Talkad appear like hairs of yakshini combed in style studded
was famous for giving grants of land to tenants, who with glittering gems. Oh, man, Hoysala is the country of
then as landlords produced goods and forest products in lions, where elephants do kneel before them with
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dreadful fear. Where lions are the gods of miracles. In transcending meta physical world switching from body
the disguise of incarnation of Vishnu, the Narsimha is of one wild animal to other, from one human to another
grounded in belief and faith, enriched with human torso. super human. That’s is the greatest discovery of India.
He well seen in lion face and penetrating claw is Entire order of construction on multi faceted facades
frequented to be the Great Protector. Narsimha defends of Belur Chenkeshva temple appears to be unique and
his devotees left in lurch, but kills Hiranyakashyapa perfect, embroidered in singing the song of love, in
who is a demon attired in gold, incurred in vices of appreciation of the beauty and glorifying the tenderness
pleasure, sex and luxury. in its exquisite magnificence. Monkeys clinging on
Quite often human desires fell like cruel hounds, branches of trees with toothy grin, chanting a chorus,
when demonic senses haunt his soul, his appetite for life staring at beautiful bejeweled lady-a voluptuous nymph
of extravagance condemns his spirit, sickens him to be screeching and saying, “Oh mistress of king, consort of
wicked and corrupt. The life of taint and debasement the emperor, Oh marvel of lady the damsel of paradise !
needs cleansing and purification. Soul cloistered in sin Where do you stroll ? Bedecked with jewels, adorned in
and turpitude demands ablution and refinement. Lead a precious stones, rolling bangles in your hands, lurching
life of sage, as devotee to god Vishnu which mandates bracelet in your arms with a sound of tinkling. Dangling
holding fast, slow starvation, penance and propitiation necklaces on your gracious rounded contours, radiating
of self to God, holding fast on to truth, on to the purity ‘glitters of sparks’ on the flash of light, adorned with
of mind and non violence that transcends one into a variable array of fashionable
power, a strength of being a Brahmin. A might most hairs. Your looks so
provident in peril, binds him to courage, sticks him to charming, your gait so
daring audacity and resolution like a lion. Man must be elegant, stay and hear, keep
half lion half humane. That is the secret of virtuous life dancing with the sound of
that transcends him to being one as Narsimha. A lion music, keep swaying your
man who understands how to kill hiraynakashyapa the foes prancing with the tune
wicked soul of his body. 12th century of Hoysala was of drummers. With parakeet
the age of experimentation of switching from amongst in your hands. Oh darpan
Jaina, Vaishnava and Shaiva. sundari, the princess with
Hoysala is the kingdom of wilderness, a free state of mirror in your hands, Oh the
liberty, choice and inventiveness. A place calm, cool celestial damsel ! O,
and tranquil where peace enchantress, that beholds the
pervades in all walks of life, power of destruction the Bhasma mohini. Your
seeking to solicit creativity, prince of dreams shall come. Your charmed grace
vision and imagination. Halebid speaks of your resolve, your appeal of seduction
Belur and Talakad temples allures thousands of gentlemen. O beautiful young
sculpture appears to murmur in woman ! Your true love’s coming. He too will
artistic style in the form of sing and dance. Wait a little further, pretty little
music, dance, sports, love, angel. Purpose of life culminates in lover’s
beauty, war and sacrifices meeting. Every wise man’s son know this.
embellished on enormous First light of the rising sun, in these temples
figurines, and motifs. Cast a splashes on the friezes of hundreds of charging
glance, you behold the scene of elephants, embodying the power, stability and
gods of creation, protection and strength of Hoysala empire. Above which the
destruction-Brihma, Vishnu and course of lions and horses epitomize the forces of
Mahesh. This piece of mother Shilabalika or Madanika kingdom from animal world which keep the
earth witnesses the glory of on cornice Belur Temple empire shrouded in sovereign harmony perched
interface and collaboration in undaunted courage and unflinching resolve to
between man and their wild animals where the spirit of impart the subject the rule of peace and tranquility.
super-human re-incarnate in fish, in wild boar, in lion Dancing Ganesh god in the entrance is revered as
man, in tortoise, in Rama, in Parushrama, in Krishna, remover of obstacles, as a patron of art and science, an
Buddha and in Kalki. All life forms evolved as a angel of intellect, knowledge and wisdom. He is none
reflection chiseled in their most radiant, exquisite and other than a mythological elephant widely diffused in
unmatchable beauty on facades supported with pilasters Jaina and Buddhist monasteries mostly one tusked or ek
at Belur, Halebid and Talakad. Different manifestation danta, other tusk broken. Wrapped in serpents vasuki
of a soul re-incarnating in different epochs of the world around his neck, forehead with moon and third eye.
history from the lowest scale of life through the fish, Ganesh uses shrew, ram, tortoise while on move, he
tortoise and hogging up to the perfection of humanity is takes the form of lion as vakratunda, a peacock as
India’s unique spiritual invention, the world need to vikata and roam around in all villages in a form of rat
acknowledge. A super evolution of human soul penetrating even the most secret place assisting the man

in overcoming his nefarious desires stumbling upon in
all his troubles.
Oh the King of Hoysala ! I
commend you for being so
braveheart, for engraving the
sea creature the Makar torana
upon the prominent places of
worship, held in high. A makar
half terrestrial wild animal
resembling like dugong in body,
a stag in head, a deer, a
crocodile in jaw, an elephant in
physique, a lion in paw, a fish in
back, with seal tail, a peacock in
wings. Hail the king”!
Some are born great, some
achieve greatness and some
have greatness thrust upon
them. Vishnuvardhana king is Bust of Dwarpalaka in
admixture of all. In all your front of Halebid temple
temples and shrines Makara
the zodiac symbol of
Capricorn, the god of ear,
an emissary stressing more
upon hearing, the divinity
of creativity and innovation,
underscoring the
importance of craft, the Sculpture of Makaratorana
magic of hard work, the on façade of Belur Temple.
significance of water, all
these behold your ambition of curiosity, steadfastness,
your firm resolve to thrive even in inhospitable
environment. The fish representing the passion, your
drive for seeking spirituality, your message to the world
to keep the spirit high, as high as makar torana perching
high on your walls. Makaratorana the manifold deity, as
a blend of animal instincts, a fusion of power emanating
from wild animals, amalgamating the commanding
dominance of mighty dispositions and reflexes of
animals creating a synergy for accentuating the vigor of
spirituality, imparting a message to the society about
the benefit of association with nature, an advantage of
maintaining perpetual connection with wild animals and
the obligation of humanity for the dependence on
natural resources. Nagas the snake-gods roost besides
makara along with crown of Garuda the eagle deity is
called the kirtimukha face. Such Kirtimukha is a
glorious face hanging on facades of Hoysala temples, a
swallowing fierceful monster-face with enormously
mighty fangs, with yawning mouth, quite often termed
in China as Monster of Greed. In Greece myth as
Ouroboros, makara is a decorative motif of lion face
devouring what is evil, sinful and malevolent. Icon of
Hoysala.
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Belur, Halebid and Talakad, all temples are built on
star shaped platform conferring more than 75 corners
and 135 facades so as to suspend the busts of a
conspicuous didactic story on each side, on each
podium from Bhagwad Gita to Ramayana and
Mahabharata in different forms dangling from the
cornices, staged as pilasters which cant avoid the
glance from general spectators staring at them. Whole
iconographic details on plinth and pillars, on facades
and cornices, on roofs and pavilions portray the story
of more animals than human forms. Each fable
interpreting devotion to Gods. King prohibiting the
practice of human sacrifice on the altar of Mariamma
inspired from Jain scholar Janna. Life of lord Krishna
leading a fight with Banasura. Shiva and Vishnu in
various incarnations. Shiva slaying a demon Andhaka.
Shiva dancing on the head of elephant Gajasura
holding his skin up behind his back, acting as
Bhairava. Vishnu holding a conch, a wheel, a lotus and
a mace. Vishnu with Lakshmi seated on his lap as
Lakshminaryana. Vishnu with a head of a boar
conquering over a demon Varaha. Krishna as
Venugopala the cow herder playing Venu the flute
amidst gopikas-young beautiful ladies, Krishna dancing
on the head of cobra the Kalia, lifting a hill Govardhana
his feet over vamana. Krishna together with Indra riding
an elephant, with Lakshmi staged on Garuda the eagle.
Hoysala art of illustration is far greater in its wide
interpretation than Chola and Chalukya. Fine
sophisticated sculptural carvings of Jakanacharya the
great sculptor and his associates made an attempt to fill
colossal knowledge from legendary tales, from
mythological traditional folklore into tiniest token
soapstone mineral schist which is really a marvel and
outstandingly amazing natural splendor transcending
millions of souls since centuries relentlessly depicting
glory of dvaita, vishishtadvaita and bhakti, power of
sanyasa and vairgya, strength of soul and being one
with God taught by Ramanuja, Madhavacharya and
Basaveshvara.
A K Singh is the member of Indian Forest
Service serving in the Ministry of Forest, Ecology
and Environment of the Government of Karnataka.
Views portrayed here are personal which are
expressed in the wake of references cited hereinafter. Contact:
9481180956. aksinghifs@gmail.com
References:
1. Nilakantha Shastri 1955. A history of South India from prehistoric
times to the fall of Vijaynagar.
2. Romila Thaper, The Penguin History of South India.
3. E P Rice. Kannada Literature.
4. John Key. India, A History, New York, Grove Publication.
5. Surya Nath Kamath. A concise history of Karnataka. 1980
6. Indian Temple Architecture. Karnata Dravida Tradition.
7. Architecture decorated with architecture. Foekema Gerard 2003.
8. A Complete Guide to Hoysala Temple by Foekema Gerard. 1996.
9. History of South India by Chopra, Ravindran and Subrahmaniam
10. Narsimhacharya R History of Kannada Literature.