Kolar Someshwara Devastana - part-2

..continued from Kolar Someshwara Devastana - part-1.

In the first part, the temple's Gopura, Vasantha Mantapa, the main temple's Natya Mantapa and the right hand side of the Sabha Mantapa were covered. This is the view from the raised platform for the right hand corner of the hall. On the let is the Natya Mantapa and Garbhagudi walls. On the right is Parvati Devastana and straight ahead is the backyard and the Mantapa for visitors. The tree seen here must be Banni-mara. This spot seems to be favorite for local people.

We walked along the raised platform checking out individual images on every pillar. Here are few which stood out. Lord Hanuman in his classic posture. The second image is of a man brooding over something. The posture and the facial expression is perfect! Krishna killing the dreaded snake Kaliya in river Yamuna.

In the next collage is a half-kneeling man carrying some load over his head. There's a slight breeze in the scene, saying that because his Shalya is fluttering. Brilliant sculpting. The other image is of a young Yogi with long hair. He's seated in comfortable posture, confidence exuding from his face.

A young lady seated on a fish. The fish's scales look so real. The girl's posture seems to tell she's lost in some pleasant thoughts. In the past 30 minutes or so, a dozen visitors must have come and gone. I was thoroughly enjoying the silence, breaking it only when Pushpa called me to show some sculpture or vice versa.

An erotic scene. A couple making love on a couch. The man and woman seem to be below average in height. The man has an angry look, the kind of look when someone's private moment is interrupted.

This image shows a man carrying a donkey. It could be a horse but it looks more like a donkey. The man seems like a prince, well built and adorning jewelry. The top portion of the pillar seems to be trimmed off abruptly to accommodate the beam.

Next we have an ascetic wearing lot of Rudraksha, has a large belly and matted hair. The other image is of a plump man, round face, squatting, his jewelry and garment indicates he's well off.

Besides Anjaneya, Ganesha is the other god who's seen commonly in temples and forts. Look at the series of pillars on the right hand side.

Here's a closer look at one of the pillars. The slender girl with a bow and arrow, her attendant pulling out a thorn from her feet. There are a dozen such pillars in a single row across the temple's facade. Each of the pillar has a ride stride a fierce creature which looks like a lion and horse. Behind the pillar is the wall of the raised platform.. a series of elephants run around the temple. Elephants indicate strength hence they are part of the base.

Monkey playing with a snake is distracted by something behind it. The pillared structure seen in the background is the Vasantha Mantapa.

Here's a collage of three images. The first one is a hooded man with a stick, he could be a cattle herd. The middle image seems to be Naigamesha, the God with goat's head. The last one is a woman, her legs apart, the position of copulating. She seems to be sitting in that position.

A fat bellied ascetic wearing a Rudrakshimala. He seems to be angry with something. His hand seem to be bent at an uncomfortable angle. The dark and soft yellow parts in this image is a nice combination.

A stout bird with a horse head and elephant trunk. This is a strange combination. Going by the horse's head, this bird must be six to seven feet tall.

Next is a bird with beautiful feathers and elephant head. This looks more reasonable compared to the previous creature. Yet, its hard to imagine a heavy head fixed on a bird's body, unless the bird is as strong as an elephant. The other image here is a man long hair, probably matted. He's just sitting there lost in thoughts.

This collage is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. The first image Anjaneya is holding a snake. The second image he's walking and the last one he's eating a fruit.

In the third image of this post we had seen a woman sitting on a fish. Here we have a long haired man on a fish. The fishes are different. In the background, there's another long haired man squatting with his knees raised. He seems to be sporting a long mustache as well.

A beast attacking a warrior? Or, is the beast his pet which is playfully biting? Ah, the man sitting here is wondering the same! With this image I end the tour of the interior and move outside. We walk along the side, towards the temple rear.

This is the south eastern corner of the Sabha Mantapa. See the beauty of the sun/rain shade, its curved and sloping. The corner has a decorative sculpture.

A closer look at the corner. A complex circular floral pattern with a face in its center. The lines emerging from it converge into a wave. Below the wave is a creature which seems like a frog. In ancient tradition, frog is associated with rains. The croaking of frogs is an indicator of oncoming rain. A lovely sculpture this is.

The rear portion of Someshwara temple, these are the walls of the Natya Mantapa and Garbhagudi. The exterior is decorated nicely, some Vijayanagara temples have rather bare walls.

Having done with the main temple, we move on the Kalyana Mantapa, a superbly sculpted mini hall meant for conducting wedding rituals.

We'll continue in Kolar Someshwara Devastana - part-3.
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