Southern-dynasties / Southern Dynasties / Hoysalas
Political History:
- Hoysalas were feudatories of chalukyas of Kalyana.
- Dwarasamudra(Halebeedu) was their capital.
- Sala was the founder of this dynasty.
- He was succeeded by Vinayaditya and Balalla 1.
- Vishnuvardhana(Bittideva) was greatest in Hoysala dynasty.
- He completely routed Cholas from Gangavadi in battle of Talakadu, for this he got the title Talkadugonda.
- In commemoration of this victory he built kirtinarayana temple at Talakadu and Chennakesavar temple at Beluru.
Religion:
- Hoysalas patronized Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Jainism.
- Vishnuvardhana followed Jainism.
- He was influenced by Sri Ramanujacharya and converted into srivaishnavism.
- Ramajunacharya left srirangam in Tamil nadu and settled in Melukote, Karnataka.
Literature:
- Kannada and Sanskrit literature developed during this period.
- Important literary works in Kannada are Harihara, Raghavanka, Nemichandra, and Janna.
Art and Architecture:
- Hoysalas combined Vesara and Dravida style and developed new Hoysala style.
- Important features of this style are the star-shaped platform, the jagati around the temple as the open pradakshinapatha, polished pillar with a variety of designs, elaborate carvings, and beautifully carved madanika figures, and the Vimana(shikara) in a pyramidical shape.
- Most of their temples are in Bhumija style, with miniature shikara carved on the outer wall of the temple.
- Examples of Hoysala temples are Channakeshava temple at Beluru, Hoysaleshvara temple at Halebidu, and Keshava temple Somnathpura.
- They constructed Jain Basadis also, such as Savathi Gandhavarana Basadi at Shravanabelagola.
