Hoysala Empire
The Hoysala Empire (Kannada: ಹೊಯ್ಸಳ) was an Indian empire. It controlled part of southern India from 1000 to 1346 A.D. Belur, Karnataka was the empire's capital. The Hoysala Empire is remembered today mostly because of its architecture. The hundreds of temples found across Karnataka are good examples of temples that were in the cities of Belur, Halebid and Somnathpura. The Hoysala kings were affected by Jainism and Hinduism. King Vishnuvardhana and the kings after him believed in Vaishnavism.
In the beginning, the Hoysalas were a small part of the Chalukyas of Kalyani. However, they began to grow until they made their own empire in Karnataka. The Hoysala period is known as one of the best times in the history of Karnataka, next only to the Vijayanagara Empire. Some famous Hoysala kings were Vishnuvardhana, Veera Ballala II and Veera Ballala III. Kannada was the main language of the Hoysala kings. The Hoysalas helped to increase Kannada and Sanskrit writing.
Kings
- Nripa Kama (1000 - 1045)
- Vinayaditya (1045 - 1098)
- Ereyanga (1098 - 1100)
- Veera Ballala I (1100 -1108)
- Vishnuvardhana (1108 - 1152)
- Narasimha I (1152 – 1173)
- Veera Ballala II (1173 – 1220)
- Narasimha II (1220 – 1235)
- Vira Someshwara (1235 – 1253)
- Narasimha III (1253 – 1292)
- Ramanatha (1253 – 1295)
- Veera Ballala III (1292 – 1342)
Hoysala Empire Media
Sala fighting a tiger, the emblem of the Hoysala Empire, at the Chennakeshava Temple, Belur
Long Fine Rectangle (plain)
Garuda pillar hero stone (virgal) at Halebidu with old Kannada inscription of about 1220 CE.
Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, built 1268 CE.
Standing Vishnu as Keshava, 1st quarter of the 12th century, Hoysala period, probably Belur, Karnataka, India
Old Kannada inscription dated to 1182 of King Veera Ballala II at Akkana Basadi, Shravanabelagola.
"Darpanasundari" (lady with a mirror), one of the many madanakai decorating the Chennakeshava Temple, Belur.
Old Kannada inscription (1270 CE) of King Narasimha III at Keshava Temple, Somanathapura.
Vesara style Vimana of the Lakshmi Narasimha temple at Nuggehalli (1246 CE)
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Other websites
- www.hoysala.in Archived 2020-10-28 at the Wayback Machine
- More on Hoysala art and architecture by Dr. Jyothsna Kamat
- History of Karnataka by Mr Arthikaje
- South Indian Inscriptions Archeological Survey of India (vols 9, 15,17,18)
- Hoysala Tourism Archived 2018-03-08 at the Wayback Machine