H.H. Sri Sri Vadhikesari Azhakiya Manavala Jeeyar swami @ Mandya

H.H. Sri Sri Vadhikesari Azhakiya Manavala Jeeyar swami

at Hale Kiranguru near Srirangapatna -  avathara sthalam

of   Thirumalai Ananthazhwan  2018

: https://youtube.com/shorts/GJOOQu_sib4

pushkarini image - Hale Kiranguru - Swami Ananthazhvan Avathara sthalam

 

The holy pushkarini at Hale Kiranguru near Sriranga Patna, Karnataka – Avatharasthalam of Swami Ananthazhwan – with trees image seen in the water

 

Pic taken couple of years ago !

H.H. Sri Vidhyendra Teertha Swamiji, Peethadipati of Chittapur Mutt

H.H. Sri Vidhyendra Teertha Swamiji, the Peethadipati of Chittapur Mutt

              had darshan at  Sri Parthasarathi Swami thirukkovil this evening 17.7.2025. 

dancing Sri Krishna at Srirangapatna

 

அணியார் ஆழியும் சங்கமும் ஏந்தும் அவர்காண்மின்

 

ஸ்ரீரங்கப்பட்டணா ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதர் திருக்கோவில் பிரகாரத்தில் உள்ள 

கல்லால் ஆன துளசி மாடத்தில் எழுந்து அருளிஇருக்கும் கண்ணன்

Dancing Krishna with Sudarshana chakram and Shankam – taken at Srirangapatna, Karnataka.

சங்கசக்ர கதாபாணே - Emperuman standing tall at Halabedu

“சங்கசக்ர கதாபாணே துவாரகா நிலைய அச்சுத

கோவிந்த புண்டரீகாக்ஷ ரக்ஷமாம் சரணாகதாம்”

 

சங்கையும் சக்கரத்தையும் கதையையும் கைகளில் ஸ்ரீமன் நாரணன்  தரித்திருப்பது சரணாகத  ரஷணத்துக்கு !’ தன்னை அடைந்தாரை என்றென்றும் காக்கும் உலகரக்ஷகரே தாமரை போன்ற கண்களையுடையவரே சரணடைந்த என்னைக் காத்தருளும்.

Exquisitely ornate Emperuman standing tall at Halabedu

Ornate Singa Peruman - Belur Chenna Keshava Temple - slaying of Hiranya by Narasimha

எங்கும் நாடி நாடி நரசிங்கா என்று !!  - எம்பெருமான் நரசிம்மன் தூணிலும் இருப்பான், துரும்பிலும் இருப்பான் .. அண்ணாந்து பார்த்தால்  விட்டத்திலும்  இருப்பான்.

 

The ornate carving of Narasimha slaying Hiranya .. .. depicted vividly in the ceiling of Belur Chenna Keshava Temple .. 

Aippaisi Punarvasu Sree Ramar 2022 - நாரதம் பரிபப்ரச்ச வால்மீகிர்முநிபுங்கவம் ॥

Today 14.11.2022 is Punarvasu in the month of Aippaisi .. .. it has been raining heavily in most parts of Tamil Nadu.  In Chennai, rains relented during AN but now it is raining heavily !!  

Ramayanam is the undiluted history – greatest Ithihasa Purana of Bhagwan Sree Rama.   In this Epic, Srimad Valmiki   narrates the journey of Virtue to annihilate vice. This epic poem Ramayana is a smriti which is translated as "from memory".   Rāmāyaṇa presents various challenging situations and shows how each one of the personalities succeeds or fails in those situations.  

தப:ஸ்வாத்யாயநிரதம் !  தபஸ்வீ வாக்விதாம் வரம் ।

நாரதம் பரிபப்ரச்ச  வால்மீகிர்முநிபுங்கவம் ॥

तपःस्वाध्यायनिरतम्  -  तपस्वी वाग्विदां वरम् ।

नारदं परिपप्रच्छ  वाल्मीकिर्मुनिपुङ्गवम् ॥   

Vālmeeki, a Tapasvi, earnestly inquired  Nārada, veritable  among Munis, the foremost of the men of letters, who was deeply engaged in Tapa and Swādhyāya:  Muni is someone who is focused on the pursuit of his quest, especially on the nature of the Universe, breathing and living it every moment.  Tapa is following a strict regimen to stretch, train, tune and hone the body and mind, to make them perform at their best. Tapasvi is one who performs Tapa. Swādhyāya is studying a subject to which one is committed. 'Bull among' 'tiger among', 'elephant among', etc. are idioms used widely in Sanskrit literature. They all mean the same, 'prominent among', 'standing tall above others', etc.  

Valmiki further queried Naradha - O Maharshi, you would assuredly be aware of such a person if one ever existed. I am very curious and yearn to know about him from you.  .. .. ..   and Narada responded - He is born into the lineage of Ikshwāku. He is known to all by the name Rāma. He has complete mastery over himself. He is a man of great valour. He is of brilliant radiance. He is extremely courageous. He has complete mastery over his senses.  

இன்று திருவல்லிக்கேணி திவ்யதேசத்திலே மாச திருநக்ஷத்திர  புறப்பாடு எனினும் ஸ்ரீராமச்சந்திர மூர்த்தி அழகான திருவாபரணங்கள் - திருமார்பு பதக்கம், காசு மாலை, மகிழம் பூ, மல்லிகை, சம்பங்கி,  சாமந்தி, சிகப்பு விருட்சி என மலர்மாலைகள்  - இவை எல்லாவற்றையும் விட.. .. இராமனது திருக்கரங்களிலே அழகான மணிகள் கொண்ட கோதண்டம் எனும் வில்; மற்றோரு திருக்கரத்தில் அம்பு பாணம் !   சற்று கூர்ந்து நோக்கினால் அவரது வில்லின் குமிழ் யாளி போன்ற அமைப்பை கொண்டதையும் அங்கேயும் மணி உள்ளத்தையும் சேவிக்கலாம்.  

 

At Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam on a rain filled day – Sree Ramachandra moorthi with his consort Seethadevi and Lakshmanan had siriya mada veethi purappadu on Punarvasu and there was rendering of ‘Perumal thirumozhi’ inside temple with Sri KUlasekara Azhwar, Mudali Andan and Embar too seated nearer Sri Ramar.  

Adikavi, the writer of epic Sree Ramayan has a pride of place in Bengaluru.  A 12-foot tall statue of Maharshi Valmiki has been  installed outside the east gate of the Vidhana Soudha (facing the High Court) on a stretch of land abutting the Raj Bhavan.  

Recently our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji paid  floral tributes to the statues of saint poet Kanakadasa and Maharshi Valmiki at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.  Our PM  later flagged off south India's first, state-of-the-art Vande Bharat express and  Bharat Gaurav Kashi Darshan service, operated by the Karnataka government's Muzrai Department, from the Krantiveera Sangolli Railway station here.  The Kashi service will fulfill the dream of numerous travellers intending to undertake Yatra to the holy city, according to the South Western Railway. It is an eight-day tour package at discounted rates for pilgrims.  This train covers holy places including Varanasi, Ayodhya and Prayagraj.     

Here are some photos of Sree Ramar punarvasu purappadu at Thiruvallikkeni.    

adiyen Srinivasa dhasan
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
14.11.2022. 
about Valmiki and Ramayana : readramayana.org 

celebrating Bhakta Kanakadasa !! - baagilanu teredu sEveyanu koDu hariye

Think of  Lord Krishna, the supreme God of the Universe    - one is instantly reminded of Sri Parthasarathi, Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam,  great Krishna temples like Guruvayur, Dwaraka, divyadesams -  Kabisthalam, Thirukkannamangai, Thirukkannapuram,  His Mathura, the places He grew up – Gokulam, Govardhanagiri, Vrindavan .. .. and Udupi !  

 

Of His many temples, one at Udupi lying on Arabian sea  is unique. Udupi Sri Krishna Matha  is a famous one – the  matha area resembles a living ashram, a holy place for daily devotion and living. Surrounding the Sri Krishna Matha are several temples.  Udupi is one among the 7 Parashurama Kshetras i.e. the places created by Sage Parashurama. According to our religious history, Parasurama  created his land out of sea and that includes coastal areas including Udupi.  In Sanskrit,Udupa means moon.  

वसुदेव सुतं देवं कंसचाणूर मर्दनम् ।

देवकी परमानन्दं कृष्णं वंदे जगद्गुरुम् || १ ||

vasudeva sutaṃ devaṃ kaṃsacāṇūra mardanam .

devakī paramānandaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vaṃde jagadgurum .. 

Bhagwan Sree Krishna, son of Vasudeva, divine lord, the killer of Kamsa and Chaanura, the supreme happiness of Devaki, we bow to Krishna, the Guru (teacher) of the universe. 

Unlikely you heard this keerthana which was a hit in a very old Kannada movie too .. .. 

baagilanu teredu sEveyanu koDu hariye

koogidaru dhvani kElalillavE narahariyE 

Kanakadasa Jayanthi, the birth anniversary of philosopher Kanakadasa, is being celebrated   in Karnataka. It is usually celebrated on the 18th day of the Karthika masa of the Hindu calendar every year. This day is a public holiday in Karnataka, and usually falls in the month of November.

 

Kanakadasa was born as  Thimmappa Nayaka, on December 3, 1509. He is known for his compositions in the Carnatic style. He used the pen name - ‘Kaaginele Adikeshava’ - for all his songs. Nalacharithre, Haribhakthisara, Nrisimhastava, Ramadhanyacharithre and Mohanatarangini are some of his famous works.  He  was born in a Kuruba (shepherd) family. Before becoming a saint, he was a warrior at Bankapura fort; later became a Haridasa - servant of god - after he was gravely injured in a battle but survived miraculously.  

Kanaka Dasa (1509–1609), popularly called Daasashreshta Kanakadasa  was a renowned composer of Carnatic music, poet, reformer and musician.  He is known for his keertanas and ugabhoga, and his compositions in the Kannada language for Carnatic music. Like other Haridasas, he used simple Kannada and native metrical forms for his compositions.  Kanaka Dasa   was taught by Srinivasacharya. In his childhood itself, he became an expert in tarka, vyakaran, and mimamsa.  . His early work includes poems titled "Narasimha Stotra", "Ramadhyana Mantra", and "Mohanatarangini".  

Kanaka Dasa had a  renowned connection with Udupi as he was the disciple of Vyasatirtha Swamiji.   On a day when  Kanakadasa was outside the temple, waiting to be allowed to enter, Lord Krishna Himself turned to offer darshan to him.  Kanakadasa was a prominent member of the Dasakoota, a close-knit group of Haridasas. This loose congregation of like-minded people was formed by Vyasatheertha Swamiji, who was then leading the Vyasakoota, in Karnataka's Hampi.   

At the famous Udupi Temple, Sree Krishna faces the back of the temple, and devotees have darshan through  a window called ‘Kanakana kindi’, meaning Kanaka's window.  Kanakadasa wrote about 240 Carnatic music compositions (kirtane, ugabhogas, padas, and philosophical songs) besides five major works.  During an excavation at Baada, Shiggaon region of Karnataka, the archaeological department found ruins of a fort and a palace which was identified as the magnificent era of Kanaka dasa.  The State Government of Karnataka has built a new fort, palace and idols of Kanaka Dasa and his life scenarios commemorating him.  

Bhakta Kanakadasa  directed by Y. R. Swamy starring Rajkumar, Krishnakumari was released in 1960, depicting the spiritual journey of Kanakadasa. This film, officially marked the 100th production/release of Kannada cinema, since its inception in 1934. Boasting of lilting tunes including the works of Kanakadasa himself, the songs were held in high esteem. The music was composed by M. Venkataraju, - and this keerthana of Kanakadasa was featured on the movie too .. 

baagilanu teredu sEveyanu koDu hariye

koogidaru dhvani kElalillavE narahariyE   

Charanas

paramapadadoLage viShadharana talpadali nee

sirisahita kSheeravaarudhiyoLiralu

kariraaja kaShTadali aadimoola endu

kareyalaakShaNa bandu odagideyO narahariyE

 

Open the door and let me serve you, O Hari!  Can’t you hear my shouts !! O Narahari! In Vaikuntha in the ocean of milk, relaxing on serpentine bed with Lakshmi on your side -  You rushed to help the king of elephants uponhis calling  ‘aadi moola!’ in distress, you came at once to his aid. O Narahari! When the villain (Hiranyakashipu) with sword in his hand and in great anger roared ‘Where is your Lord?’  -  the boy (Prahlaada) prayed for you in sincere devotion, you immediately appeared breaking down the pillar.

 

You may wish to watch the lyrical video  Baagilannu Theredu sung by: Dr. Vidyabhushana on  Anand Audio Devotional Channel..!!! : 

Recently our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji paid  floral tributes to the statues of saint poet Kanakadasa and Maharshi Valmiki at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.  Our PM  later flagged off south India's first, state-of-the-art Vande Bharat express and  Bharat Gaurav Kashi Darshan service, operated by the Karnataka government's Muzrai Department, from the Krantiveera Sangolli Railway station here.  The Kashi service will fulfill the dream of numerous travellers intending to undertake Yatra to the holy city, according to the South Western Railway. It is an eight-day tour package at discounted rates for pilgrims.  This train covers holy places including Varanasi, Ayodhya and Prayagraj.  Modiji  also flagged off the inaugural special of Vande Bharat Express, connecting Mysuru and Chennai via this city. 

With regards – S.Sampathkumar
13.11.2022 

Thiruvadigal waiting ! at Belur

 திருமால் கோயில்- பெரிய பெருமாளின்  திவ்ய மங்கள விக்ரஹத்தை தாங்கள் தோளில் தாங்க காத்து இருக்கும் *பெரிய திருவடியும் சிறிய திருவடியும்* [கருடாழ்வாரும் ஹனுமனும்]  பேலூர் ஸ்ரீசென்னகேசவ பெருமாள் கோவில் –கர்நாடகா

 

Garuda / Hanumantha vahanangal at Belur Sri Chennakeshava Perumal Koil

11.10.2022

Sri Kukke SubrahmaNya temple

 Sri Kukke SubrahmaNya temple, Karnataka

 

Mayuura-Adhiruuddham Mahaa-Vaakya-Guuddham

Manohaari-Deham Mahac-Citta-Geham |

 

Sri Garudazhwar at Sri Chennakeshava Perumal temple at Belur

 *Stunningly beautiful Garudazhwar at Belur Sri Chennakesava temple*

Garuda is a legendary bird  revered by Hindu, Buddhist and Jain religions. Garuda is often portrayed in  anthropomorphic form (man with wings and some bird features). Garuda is a protector with power to swiftly go anywhere, ever watchful and an enemy of the serpent. 

அம்ருத கலச ஹஸ்தம் காந்தி ஸம்பூர்ணதேஹம் ஸகல விபுதவந்த்யம் வேத சாஸ்த்ரைரசிந்த்யம் விவித ஸுலப பக்ஷை: தூய மானாண்ட கோநம் ஸகல விஷவிநாஸனம் சிந்தயேத் பக்ஷிராஜம்.

அம்ருத கலசத்தை கையில் ஏந்தியவர். தேக காந்தி மிக்கவர். அனைத்து தேவதேவியர்களாலும் வணங்கப்படுபவர். இவருடைய பெருமையை யாராலும் விவரிக்க இயலாது. இவரது இறக்கை காற்று அண்டங்களை எல்லாம் நடுங்கச்செய்யும். இவரை உபாசித்தால் பாம்பு விஷம் நீங்கும். சகல விஷ வியாதிகளும் விலகும். பக்ஷிராஜரான கருடபகவானை நான் சிந்தையில் நிறுத்தி ஆராதிக்கிறேன். 

 

As we worshipped Garudazhwar at Belur .. ..

              up in the sky – a beautiful Garudan (Brahmany kite) [taken near Srirangapatna] 

The brahminy kite (Haliastur indus),  is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.  In 1760, French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson described and illustrated the Brahminy kite in the first volume of his Oiseaux based on a specimen collected in Pondicherry, India. He used the French name L'aigle de Pondichery. The brahminy kite is distinctive and contrastingly coloured, with chestnut plumage except for the white head and breast and black wing tips

10.10.2022

Acarya Thirumalai Ananthazhwan uthsavam at Avathara sthalam 2022

We read about British history, that of Mughals and something of Chera, Chozha, Pandiyas .. .. there is another Empire remembered  for its temple architecture.  There are over hundred temples from this era still standing in various parts of Karnataka – and it is that of Hoysalas ! 

Wish to experience the extreme Bliss ! ~ even as you start feeling the chillness, most likely the mellifluous song of Sri Annamacharya  would pervade you….  

adivo alladivo śrī hari vāsamu ** padivela śeṣula paḍagala mayamu ||  

even to those who may not know or understand Telugu –  it is divine, it is the sankeerthana about the most sacred Seven Hills, the abode of Supreme Lord. Sure you would have visited the holy Thirumala, many a times, next time, take a leisurely stroll on the Mada veethis of the holy hill and feel Him fully.  This post would try to link the holy Thirumala, the abode of Lord Srinivasa (Thiruvengadam aka Thirumalai) to a small village miles away nearer Mysore.  

Most great civilizations grew on river beds.  The sacred Cauvery from its source to its union with Sea makes flourish thousands of miles and there are many holy bathing ghats too.   Hoysala empire ruled  between the 10^th & the 14^th  centuries. The capital of the Hoysalas was initially located at Belur but was later moved to Halebidu.  Art, architecture,  Kannada & Sanskrit literature  and Vaishnavism flourished during their reign. On way to Mysore from Bangalore lies Mandya district, region purportedly getting its name, meaning a habitat preceding a civilization or roughly an ancient abode.   Then there is - 'Pandavapura'  which literally means "Town of Pandavas". Legend has it that the Pandavas during their period of exile stayed here for sometime, and Kunthi, mother of the Pandavas, liked the hillock so much that it became one of her favorite haunts. The town has historic relevance also as it was used as the camping ground by the French army.  There are many jaggery manufacturing units too adding sweetness to the town which has Cauvery water flowing through Visweswarayya Canal ~ and there is some connection of this place to Thirumala.  

To us, devout Sri Vaishnavaites, this place – to be specific a small village known as Siruputhur ‘Kiranganoor’ [Hale Kiranguru] in Srirangapatna taluk is of significance for its association with one of our Acharyars.  Sri Ananthazhwaan was born in year 1053 near Mysore here in this  village called ‘siruputhoor’ ~ now called Hale Kiranguru in Srirangapatna Taluk -  571807 situate on Pandavapura Station High Road.    

When Udayavar was rendering kalakshepam on Thiruvaimozhi, (the verse – sindhu poo magizhumThiruvengadathu – meaning the place replete with flowers), Udayavar asked whether anybody would do the pushpa kainkaryam at Thirumala.  Remember, Tirupathi was a very dense jungle ridden with wild animals with adverse weather.  Ananthazhwaan readily came forward and said that he would go, if Udayavar so desires.  Udayavar was so elated that he praised Ananthazhwaan as the real man and till date, his descendents have the name  Thirumalai Ananthanpillai’ meaning manly.  

Thirumalai Ananthazhwaan continued his floral and other services to Lord Srinivasar for many years. He was so devoted in his service ordained by Ramanujacharya that for him, it was service that was of primary importance, even when compared to God.     The Vigraham of Sri Ramanujar that we worship inside the Sri Vari Temple was installed by him. ‘Sri Venkatesa  ithihasamaala’ is considered the best amongst the many works of Thirumalai  Ananthazhwaan.  

ஸ்ரீரங்கபட்டணத்தில் தமிழ் பொன்னி என்று நாம் கொண்டாடும் 'காவிரி' அகண்டு பிரம்மாண்டமாய் பிரவகிக்கிறாள். இங்கே கங்கையில் புனிதமாய காவிரியில் ஆனந்த நீராடி, ஸ்ரீரங்கபட்டணத்து ஆதி ரங்கனை தரிசித்து 'சிறுபுத்தூர்  ` ஹலே  கிரங்கூரு' எனும் கிராமம் சென்றடைந்தோம்.   இது நம் ஆசார்யர்  திருமலை அனந்தான் பிள்ளையின் அவதார ஸ்தலம். பல சக்கரை ஆலைகள் உள்ளதனால் லாரிகளில் கரும்பு எடுத்துச்  சென்றுகொண்டு இருந்த  அந்த பிரதான சாலையில் பயணித்தவர்கள், திவ்யப்ரபந்தம் செவியால் கேட்கும் பாக்கியம் பெற்றார்கள்.  ஸ்ரீபெரியாழ்வாரின் பக்தி மணம் கமழும் வரிகள் இங்கே :  

உன்னுடைய விக்கிரமம் ஒன்றொழியாமல்  எல்லாம்**

என்னுடைய நெஞ்சகம்பால் சுவர்வழி எழுதிக்கொண்டேன்**

மன்னடங்க மழுவலங்கைக் கொண்ட இராமநம்பீ ! **

என்னிடைவந்து எம்பெருமான் இனியெங்குப் போகின்றதே.  

"  மன் அடங்க "  -  துஷ்ட குணங்கள் கொண்ட ஆள்பவர்கள் அழியும்படி, மழு என்னும் ஆயுதத்தை  தமது வலக்கையில் கொண்ட ஸ்ரீமன் நாராயணன்,  பாசுராமனாய்த் திருவவதரித்த ராமநம்பீ.. .. அத்தகைய எம்பெருமானின் வீரச் செயல்களை  ஒன்று   தப்பாமல்,  ஆழ்மனம் தனிலே, சுவரில் சித்திரமெழுதுவதுபோல எழுதிக்கொண்டேன்;  எங்களாயர்  தலைமகனே தாமே என்னிடத்தில் வந்து வேறு எங்கும் செல்லாமல் என்மனம் தனிலே நிலைத்திரும் என்கிறார் ஆழ்வார்.  

For the past few years, anniversary of avathara Uthsavam of Sri Ananthazhwaan is being celebrated at his place at Thirumala.  His descendants thought it fit to organize one at his birth place too and this year on 23^rd July 2022   -  his Thirunakshithiram was grandly celebrated at his avatharasthalam at Kiranganur. Understand that till a few years ago, other than a slab nothing existed here ~ now it is a beautifully constructed place having a temple  tank, a Sannadhi where Thiruvengadam Udaiyan, Sri Andal, Sri Mathurakavigal,  Sri Ramanujar and Sri Thirumalai Ananthanpillai, Swami Manavala mamunigal  are worshipped.   

This year by rotation, it was Iyarpa m rendered by close to hundred Sri Vaishnavaites comprising of Adhyapakars from  Perumal Kovil, Thiruvallikkeni and other places and of course from ThiruNarayanapuram.  It was divine leisurely rendering of Thiruvanthathis, Thiruviruthatham, Thiruvasiriyam, Thiruvezhukoorrirukkai, Thirumadals -  rendering  that extended for hours.  

The function was grandiosely well organized thanks to the untiring efforts of Swamis like Sri U Ve Selvanarayanan Swami  from  Melkote,  [unfortunately I am missing out the details of the names of those Organisers  who did untiring work as they remained in the background  ~ a visitor like me was awe-struck seeing the spirit, enthusiasm and ease of people who visibly were Septuagenarians or perhaps easily more.  One needs to see their high energy levels; their knowledge, humility, culinary skills total devotion to Sriman Narayana].  They offered so many varieties of prasadams (so many sweets) to Perumal during Divyaprabandha sevakalam.  My Pranams to those Organisers and thanks to  Dr. MA Venkatakrishnan swami [& MA Madhusudhanan]  and other organizers Kannamani, TA Bakthisaran  among others  who took care of the group so well]  for taking us there.   His Holiness Sree Dhanurdasa Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamy blessed us all during the sarrumurai.  This young sanyasi after kainkaryam at Acarya avathara sthalam, is presently doing kainkaryam at Mirle Saligramam associated with Ramanujar, Mudaliandan and .. . Vaduga nimbi.   Towards the end, Ananthazhwan vamsathinar were honoured.  MA Madusudanan – highlighted the activities, elaborated on the kainkaryam done by sthalathars,  thanked those who had travelled down here for the kainkaryam and profusely thanked Melukote swamis for hosting in such a great manner.                

                               A  few years earlier,  a branch of the divine Magizhamaram from Thirumala [‘Puraisaivari Thottam’] planted here, has now grown well thanks to the divine grace and pervading fragrance.  Let us worship the feet of ThirumalaiAnanthalwar renowned for his knowledge, devotion, steadfastness and more good qualities. Some photos taken at his avathara sthalam are here.  

adiyen Srinivasadhasan. [Mamandur Veeravalli  Srinivasan Sampathkumar]
7^th  Aug 2018.  

PS:  Three of the most well-known Hoysala Temples are the Kesava Temple at Somanathapura, Chennakesava Temple at Belur and Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebidu. The figurine representing Sala attacking the tiger became the emblem of this royal family and can be seen in almost every temple built by the Hoysalas.  The Hoysalas ruled a large part of modern day Karnataka and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu from the 10th to the 14th century. In the late 1100s, King Vishnuvardhana Raya’s grandson, Veera Ballala II freed the Hoysalas from the Chalukya subordination and established an independent kingdom. Kannada folklore suggests that he founded the city of Bangalore. He was succeeded by his son; Narasimha II who in turn was succeeded by his son, Vira Someshwara.    

Historians consider them to have been natives of the Malnad region in Karnataka but inscriptions also point towards connections with the Yadavas from North India. The Hoysala Empire was founded by King Nripa Kama II who is remembered to having built an alliance with the Western Ganga dynasty. He was succeeded by his son Vinayaditya who was followed by his son and their sons until Veera Ballala I who died childless and was succeeded by his younger brother Vishnuvardhana Raya.  In the history of Hoysalas the name, Vishnuvardhana Raya holds great importance. It was under King Vishnuvardhana Raya that the kingdom achieved political prominence. Of his many military conquests, he is best known for winning the Gangawadi area from the Cholas in 1116.  It was also under his reign that the influence of Swami Ramanujacharya  spread in the Karnataka region and Srivaishnavism grew in popularity. Vishnuvardhana Raya himself was originally known as Bittideva later fell at the feet of Udayavar and embraced Srivaishnavism.  

Here are some photos taken by me during the recent visit on 23^rd July 2022.