The Belur Chennakeshava Temple, a gem among stones, is an architectural marvel. It showcases the Hoysala architecture with many notable features, including its unique layout, ornate pillars (one of them revolves about its own axis), and most importantly the bracket figures, which are beautifully carved sculptures mounted on the exterior wall at an angle just below the eaves.
Note: This page is about the bracket figures. Check the Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Navaranga page for the images and detailed explanation of the architectural elements inside and outside the navaranga.
Navaranga – Hoysala Class ic Design
Although the front portion of the temple – popularly known as navaranga – is relatively small, it is unique in many ways and aesthetically pleasing. The layout of the navaranga shown below highlights the location of the bracket figures and the other architectural elements.
Note: The diagram is not drawn to scale. The bracket figures are represented by circles and given a number. The sections of the wall are also labeled to indicate their location. For example, S4 is the fourth section on the south side from the main entrance.
The temple is symmetrical about an east-west axis. In other words, the south-side layout is a mirror image of the north side (and vice versa).
As you can see from the diagram, there are three entrances, the main entrance to the temple is on the east side, and a side entrance each on the north and the south. Because of the location of the garb
Bracket Figures – Hoysala Masterpieces
The exterior wall surrounding the navaranga has eight sections each on the south (S1 to S8) and north (N1 to N8) sides. On each section, small (height of 2.5 ft on the average) but finely-carved and ornate sculptures are mounted on the brackets just below the eaves of the temple. They
There are 38 bracket figures on the exterior wall, 18 on the south side and 20 on the north side. Two on the south side are missing from the original 40. There are four bracket figures on the pillars surrounding the dance hall inside the navaranga.
The bracket figures are inclined such a way that the onlookers can have a good view of them. Each of these figures is standing on a round base mounted on top of a pedestal that is attached to the pillar at the top but just below its capital. The pedestal is carved to look like a lotus flower. Some of the bases have inscriptions on their sides written in the Halegannada (Old Kannada) script with the information about the sculptor.
Each pillar in the corners pointed outwards has two figures mounted on it perpendicular to each other. Each middle pillar, as well as the pillar in the corner pointing inwards, has just one figure mounted on it.
Most of the bracket figures are made of Balapada Kallu, a type of soft soapstone with characteristics ideal for sculpting. As the name suggests, it is soft, so it is easier to sculpt. Once the stone is exposed to air, it gets harder, so the sculpture lasts longer.
Balapada Kallu, which is available in plenty in Karnataka, comes with an attractive soft gray color, which is one of the main reasons why most bracket figures are made of this stone. However, a few of them use Krishna Shilé, a type of black stone. As the name suggests, these stones are black and are typically used for sculpting gods and goddesses.
Here are some of the noteworthy bracket figures:
Darpana Sundari
This beautifully carved shilābālike, popularly known as Darpana Sundari, is an iconic figure and one of the most famous sculptures in the world. She is like the Monalisa of the sculpture world. In Kannada,
As you can see from the image, Dapana Sundari is holding a mirror and looking at herself in it. She is wearing beautiful jewelry and dress, her elegant stance suggests that she is a dancer, and it appears as though she is looking in the mirror just before the start of a dance performance.
Notice the three small figures at the bottom; Two among them, who appeared to be her assistants, are seen handing her some objects – most likely the makeup material. The third one is a mysterious stocky figure carrying a monkey on his left side and holding a bunch of fruits or nuts with his right hand.
Located to the right of Shuka
Sukha Bhasini
This shilābālike , popularly known as Shuka
As you can see from the image, the shilābālike has elegantly bent her body to give her a beautiful dancing stance and precisely held her left hand at the chest level so that the parrot can stand on the back of her palm and look at her. Sukha Basini is also mounted on the pillars located on the main entrance, so she is also one of four shilābālikes believed to resemble Shantala Devi.
Nātya Sundari, the Dancing Madanike at the Main Entrance
This beautifully sculpted shilābālike is one of the first bracket figures you see when you enter the Chennakeshava Temple. She is above the doorway on the right side, and the iconic Darpana Sundari is on the left side.
As you can see from the image, she is wearing stylish clothes and jewelry, and her well-proportioned body has a graceful dancing stance. It appears as though she is dancing. Accompanying her are the four musicians at the bottom, two of them are playing the
She is bracket figure number 38 in the navaraga layout.
Note: Tāla, which looks like a smaller version of hand cymbals, is an Indian musical instrument made of brass typically played while singing devotional music.
Gaana Sundari
This shilābālike, known as Gāna Sundari (Singing Beauty), is seen singing while playing the
Notice the four figures at the bottom who are seen playing some musical instruments. It appears Gāna Sundari is part of an orchestra, a quintet in which she is the lead singer accompanied by two male musicians playing the
Gāna Sundari is mounted on the rightmost of the four pillars on the facade of the temple at the main entrance. Experts believe that she is also one of the four shilābālikes that resembles Shantala Devi. She is bracket figure number 37 in the
Kapi Chasté (Monkey Mischief ) – Madanike chasing a Monkey
As you can see from the image, a monkey is pulling the dress of a beautiful lady who is trying to chase it with a small tree branch. She appears to be semi-nude, and her facial expression shows annoyance at being harassed by the monkey.
As with the other bracket figures, the background is a finely carved creeper. The base on which the dancer stands has an inscription describing the sculptor – inscribed most likely by the sculptor himself.
Kesha Sundari
This shilābālike, popularly known as Kesha Sundari, is seen holding her long hair while her two lady assistants at the bottom appear to be helping her style her hair. In Kannada,
As with the other bracket figures, the background is a finely carved creeper. The base on which the dancer stands has an inscription describing the sculptor – inscribed most likely by the sculptor himself.
Tribhangi
This shilābālike, popularly known as Tribangi, is performing a complicated dance move, known as
The term Tribhanga, which is described in the Nātya Shāstra (ancient Indian text on dance) and the Shilpa Shāstras (ancient Indian texts on crafts), refers to a pose with three bends in the body, typically the knee, waist, and neck. It is a dance move commonly performed in the contemporary Indian classical dances, such as the Odissi, Bharata ātyam, and Kathakali. As you can see from the image, Tribhangi has elegantly curved her body by bending her knee, waist, and neck, to give her a beautiful S-like shape. The sculptor has perfectly captured this dance pose with amazing details.
Betegārthi (Huntress)
The Betegārthi is a huntress, indicated by the bow on her left shoulder and an arrow (only a small piece remains) in her right hand. She seems to have finished a successful hunt, indicated by the lady on the bottom right who is seen carrying on her shoulder a kill, which appears to be a deer, from the hunt.
The lady on the bottom left, who most likely helped in the hunt, is seen carrying a sword-like object. There is a small mysterious figure, most likely a man, with a puzzled facial expression sitting next to this lady.
This bracket figure is finely carved with amazing details. Betegārthi’s majestic stance and facial expression show her pride after a successful hunt. Notice her left toe, which is up slightly as if she is about to move.
This shilābālike is mounted on the
Flute Playing Male Musician
This beautifully carved bracket figure of a male musician is playing the flute accompanied by two musicians. On the bottom left, a lady musician playing the tāla, and on the bottom right, a male musician is playing the flute. He is in a Tribanga stance (bent in three places, knee, waist, and neck).
This bracket figure is mounted on the corner pillar (11) of the fifth section (S5) of the south-side exterior wall.
Kapāla Durga
This shilābālike, who is depicted as Goddess Durga, is seen holding the kapāla danda (skull cup attached to a staff) with her left hand and an unidentified object with her right hand. Accompanying her are the two
In Hindu mythology, Durga is a goddess who fights evil forces. As you can see from the image, Durga Shilābālike is wearing a garland of kapālas on her crown symbolizing the liberation of mankind from evil.
The round base on which this shilābālike is standing is on top of a lotus pedestal. The side of the base has an inscription written in the old Kannada script inscribed most likely by the sculptor describing him and his work.
This shilābālike is mounted on the pillar at the junction of section 4 (S4) and 5 (S5) of the exterior wall surrounding the navaranga. She is bracket figure number 9 in the navaraga layout.
Mango Plucking Madanike
As you can see from the image, this beautifully dressed shilābālike with an elegant stance is plucking a mango with her right hand. Unlike many other bracket figures, she neither a dancer nor a singer because of her stance and the lack of accompanying figures, typically placed at the bottom playing instruments. It appears that she is just a beautiful lady collecting fruits.
The base of this bracket figure has an inscription written in Halegannada (old Kannada) script, most likely inscribed by the sculptor describing him and his work. The base is mounted on a pedestal carved with three layers of lotus flower petals.
This shilābālike is on a corner pillar at the junction of the 6th and 7th section of the navaranga exterior wall. She is bracket figure number 16 in the navaraga layout.
Davane Playing Male Musician
Like his female counterparts in the bracket figures, he is wearing a lot of jewelry, including large loop earrings, armbands, and necklaces. As for his hair, he has a long ponytail held up behind his head. Because of stance, it appears he is dancing while beating his
This male musician is one of the only three male figures among 42 bracket figures in the temple and located on the last pillar on the south side of exterior wall surrounding the navaranga. This is bracket figure number 18 in the navaraga layout.
Nātya Sundari with a Lizard Chasing a Fly in the Background
This finely carved shilābālike is dancing accompanied by two musicians at the bottom, one playing a
She is bracket figure number 13 in the navaranga layout.
Nagna Sundari
This beautiful shilābālike, popularly known as
According to one story, she got rid of the scorpion found in her dress by undressing herself. Another story suggests that she is a
The legends of
Davane Playing Madanike
This intricately carved
Related Pages
– Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Bracket Figures
– Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Navaranga
– Belur Chennakeshava Temple – Garbhagriha Outer Wall
– Somanathapura Keshava Temple – A Magnificent Temple Dedicated to Vishnu
Copyright © 2019 – 2020 by Lawrence Rodrigues. All rights reserved.