Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Nuggehalli, Hindu temple in Hassan district, India
The Lakshmi Narasimha Temple in Nuggehalli is a Hoysala stone temple in Hassan district, Karnataka, with three sanctums arranged around a central closed mantapa supported by four round pillars with domed ceilings. Each sanctum has its own entrance, and the interior rooms connect through shared passageways.
The temple was built in 1246 by Bommanna Dandanayaka, a military commander who served under King Vira Someshwara of the Hoysala Empire. This kind of patronage by local military leaders was common across the region during that period.
The outer walls carry carved panels showing scenes from the Bhagavatha, with figures of deities and attendants running along the lower eaves. Visitors who walk slowly around the building can follow these stone stories from one panel to the next.
The temple sits in the village of Nuggehalli, roughly 50 kilometers from Hassan and about 30 kilometers from Shravanabelagola, and is open daily with no entry fee. The interior floors are smooth stone, so sturdy footwear is useful, and setting aside extra time allows a relaxed look at the carved details.
The western sanctum holds images of Durga, Saraswati, and Harihara in three separate niches, which is unusual for a temple of this period. Harihara is a deity that joins Vishnu and Shiva into one figure, making this one of the few spaces where followers of both traditions could gather in the same place.
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