Pleasing Hari and Hara !
Scattered across Karnataka are hundreds of temples - big / small , popular /obscure - all mostly situated in what in modern times have become "Small Towns" , whatever their status was when the temples were built.
Lakshmi Narasimha Temple : Built in 1246 by a Dandanayaka of Hoysala Veera Someshwara. It is richly decorated Trikuta shrine , cleverly made to look like a Ekakuta , by making the lateral sanctums mere extensions of the central mantapa. The outer wall is divided into two horizontal sections , with two eaves , giving a sense of height. The Friezes running around the base are six in number and the tower is three tiered and profusely ornamented. The murtis on the walls are lovely with intricate ornamentation. Some sculptors have left their signatures under their works. The temple stands on a stellate Jagathi( platform).
It is hardly more than a village , but a very scenic village . The two temples , to Channakesava and Siddheshwara , are built within the same enclosure , standing quite close to each other .
Lakshminarasimha Temple : Dated 1230 , built by three wealthy brothers in Vesara style. It is a Trikuta structure with the central shrine having the biggest tower with a prominent sukanasi . It sports double eaves , with pilasters in the upper part and devata murtis in the lower part . There are six friezes below that with one running band being plain devoid of any sculpting. The three presiding deities are Lakshminarasimha , Venugopala and Keshava. Two mini shrines flank the small flight of steps at front . There is separate closed mantapa near the gate of unknown date and purpose. The lawn and garden around the shrine are quite lush . 
Someshwara Temple : The same brothers built this temple to Shiva too , during the same time . And the basic plan is also almost same in that it is Vesara style, it stands on a jagati affording a pradakshinapatha , is double eaved and has six friezes at the base . bUt it is an Ekakuta that appears like Trikuta because of the two lateral structures that only look like shrines but are not. For some reason , the Someshwara Temple is not maintained well (though Protected by ASI) looks abandoned and plagued by weeds.
The Hoysalas were obsessive temple builders . Having discovered the merits of Schist that can be worked on with ease , they seem to have found it difficult to stop themselves from chiseling away to glory !
It is interesting to note that in many sites , they built two important temples, one dedicated to their favourite Keshava and the other to Shiva. In any given town, both temples surviving in good condition up to modern times is only a matter of chance. For instance , in the very famous Somanathapura, the magnificent Chennakesava has survived and is thriving gloriously in the tourist circuit ; while the Panchalingeswara , not very far from it , suffered like a poor relative, collecting dust and vegetation , till recently. (Only now , there has been some cleaning up ) .
This post is an effort to put together impressions of a few Towns which have Shrines to Hari and to Hara both surviving well.
1. NUGGEHALLI
Sadashiva Temple : Built by the same Dandanayaka , just a few years later , this Shiva temple is special for the Bhumija ( or Quasi-Bhumija) type of Vimana it sports. This is a Northern style not much seen in this region. It might have been an experiment or a curio . The outer walls are plain , with no murtis . But there are lovely images of Bhairava , Nandi , Ganesha, Surya etc , inside . The temple is designed to be an Ekakuta and subsidiary shrine to DEvi has been added just beyond the mukha mantapa. The two impressive granite Dwarapalas installed at the entrance are not of Hoysala vintage.
Nuggehalli is in Hassan District.
2. MARLE
The Chennakesava temple has more decorative aspects and the presiding deity is quite big for the small temple. The Siddeshwara temple has a few interesting sculptures on its walls , but much simpler . Both are Ekakuta shrines. What makes the twin temples interesting are the inscriptions . One on a very huge slab, erected in front of the pair and the other on the lintel of Shiva temple.
The 12.4 ft high stone inscription (with 100 lines of fine calligraphy ) gives the following information (Ref: EC Vol 6 (1901) : That Rayana Dandanatha , a Chieftain serving under Vishnuvardhana, created an agrahara called Moraley aka Keshavapura and built the Keshava temple , praying for protection of " the three worlds". King Vishnuvardhana visited the Keshava temple in 1130CE and made extensive land grants for the upkeep , worship, decorations and offerings of music and dance for the God.
The Shiva temple , by inference from the other inscriptions , would have come up a little later. Parts of it remain unfinished.
The smaller inscription tells of a lady who fought the village council for the restitution of worship rituals in the Shiva temple that had been stopped ( for unknown reasons) .
My personal favourite from this place is the Natesa dancing so joyously !
Marle is near Chikamagalur.
3. HARANAHALLI
Haranahalli is in Arasikere taluk
4. NAGALAPURA :
A dusty village , back of beyond , with two nice Hoysala monuments : Kedareshwara and Chennakesava . Posted here :
https://www.blogger.com/u/3/blog/post/edit/4357977015036278715/2357353311701431348
5. MOSALE :
Twins again , Nageshwara and Chennakesava . Identical and so close together as to be Conjoined Twins. The term is justifiable because both temples are built on the platform. Nothing is known of who built or when, but based on the stylistic features , scholars have settled on early 1200s. Well ornamented , Vesara structures , with single shikara each . Single eaved. Beautiful well polished pillars inside . The ceiling medallions are very well carved.
Quite striking are the stone kalashas ( finials) at the top of the shikaras . And the fairly large Hoy-Sala Lanchanas ( Man killing Lion) .
Some of the sculptures on the walls have names incised on their pedestals , but not very clear. The frieze mouldings at the base are blank , just blocks without elephants/horses/hamsas etc.
An Inscription slab belonging to 15th Century, with a Jaina header, has been erected here , probably for its safe keeping.
These "pocket sized" Twins are decorative, neat , small and.....cute .
Mosale is near Hassan .
All are ASI Protected Monuments
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