Small but significant temples

On the busy Bengaluru-Mysuru highway, just 5 km before Mandya, is the village of Hosa Budanuru. The village has grown around two beautiful Hoysala temples. The temples are separated by a few hundred metres and are dedicated to Ananthapadmanabha, a form of Lord Vishnu in which he is accompanied by the snake, Anantha, and Vishweshwara, one of the many names of Lord Shiva. Both the temples were considered to be built in the second half of 12th century in typical Hoysala style.  

Ananthapadmanabha Temple is built on a star-shaped platform. The entrance to the temple is through a pillared porch called the mukhamantapa, which leads through an ornate doorway into a closed hall devoid of any windows, called the sabhamantapa. An antarala (vestibule) connects this hall to the garbhagriha (sanctum). The doorways of both  antarala and garbhagriha are ornate and have multiple jambs. Two subsidiary shrines on either sides of the doorway of the antarala   house small idols of Ganesha and Lakshmi.

The garbhagriha houses a beautifully carved idol that depicts Lord Ananthapadmanabha in a standing posture, unlike the common sleeping posture found in temples. Idols of Shridevi and Bhudevi flank the deity. The pillars in the sabhamantapa are all well-carved. The outer walls are bereft of any sculpture and have a repetitive geometrical design. Even the vimana (tower) over the sanctum is
minimal.  

Vishweshwara Temple is similar in plan to Ananthapadmanabha Temple. The ceilings of the sabhamantapa are more ornate. Here one can see that the ceiling was originally painted as some of the motifs still appear reddish. The painting would have been of natural colour made by mixing stone powder, flower extracts, etc, and has survived for over 800 years! This temple also houses an exquisitely carved Nandi placed in the centre of the sabhamantapa, facing the linga housed in the garbhagriha. The well-proportioned bull has been embellished with jewellery and bells, all carved in stone! There are sculptures of Ganesha, Karthikeya and Saptamatrikas placed in the sabhamantapa, which may or may not belong to this temple, but are of excellent sculptural quality. This temple has been adopted by Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Dharmothana Trust for restoration and development. The lake in front of the two temples is also being rejuvenated. The priest informed that the village even had its own fort walls in the past of which only the doorway survives today.

Though restored, the temples at Hosa Budanuru need to be maintained properly. Foliage growing through crack and crevices might damage the temple in the long run. There is no information put up about the temples and hence visitors remain ignorant about their history and architecture. The priests of both the temples perform daily prayers and rituals in the morning and then lock the temple. Their telephone numbers are written on the main doors and if contacted, they are more than happy to come and show you around the temple. So, the next time you are zooming on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway, slow down and take a detour to Hosa Budanuru which houses small but significant Hoysala temples.