The Nageshvara-Chennakeshava temple complex is an elegant example of Hoysala architecture of the early 12th century. It is located in the village of Mosale, about 10 km from Hassan city, in Hassan district of Karnataka state, India. The temple was built in 1200 A.D. during the reign of Hoysala King Veera Ballala II. According to art historian Gerard Foekema, the two temples that are built in the same complex, in an idyllic rural setting, form a "perfect twin". This temple complex is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Architecture
By plan, the temples are simple single-shrined structures with all the standard features of Hoysala architecture; a porch entrance into a square closed mantapa or navaranga leading to the sanctum, and a superstructure over the main shrine fitting the description of a ekakuta. The sanctum is connected to the hall by a vestibule called sukhanasi. The closed hall, whose inner and outer walls are decorated, has four central lathe turned pillars that support a bay ceiling. The temples are constructed next to each other. The Nageshvara temple, dedicated to the Hindugod Shiva is in the south. The Chennakeshava temple, dedicated to a standing cult image of the Hindu godVishnu, is to the north. Since all features are replicated in the temples, Gerard Foekema considers the ensamble a dvikuta. The superstructure over each shrine is three tiered and vesara in style. It is intact, finely sculptured and has a decorative low extension which is actually the tower over the vestibule. The extension tower looks like the "nose" of the main superstructure and is also called sukhanasi. The sukanasi structure holds the beautiful Hoysala crest that depicts a royal warrior stabbing a lion. At the top of the superstructure of the shrine is a "helmet" like sculptured dome whose ground surface area can be 2x2 meters. It is the largest piece of sculpture in the temple. The amalaka supports a decorative water pot like structure called the kalasha which is the apex of the tower. All these features are intact in both temples. The decorative features found on the temple outer wall belong to the "old kind". In this type of decorations, below the superstructure, an eaves that projects about half a meter runs all around the temple. Below the eaves are decorative miniature towers on pilasters. In the "old kind", the large wall images of deities and their attendants are placed below these decorative towers. Some of these images appear damaged, but there are others that require special mention for their elegance and art. The panel images at the Nageshvara temple have their names on their pedestals. Some of these are images of Sridevi, Lakshmidevi, Gauri, Maheshvari, Brahma, Sadashiva and Bhumidevi. The Channakeshava temple has sculptures of Garuda, Keshava, Janardana, Venugopala, Madhava and Bhudevi. Below these images, the base of the wall comprises five different horizontal moldings, one of which is a row of blocks.
