History

History of the Town

Nuggehalli used to be a flourishing town as seen in the inscription Ch.238. & an ancient place near which the Chola king is said to have constructed a temple of ‘Jayagondeshwara’ & to which the Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana gave some grants in 1121 A.D. A number of temples dedicated to ‘Vishnu & his incarnation’ were constructed during the reign of Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana. The Jain King came under the profound influence of the Srivaishnava saint Sri Ramanujacharya. (It was during this time an impetus to Hinduism over the then religion of Jainism – as signified by the sculptures & basadies of Sravanabelgola gained strength) & had several such temples constructed in his kingdom.

History of Temple

The original Hoysala temple appears to have had a Mahadvara or upparige of soapstone supported by plain round pillars. In front of the Mahadvara stood the two fine elephants, which are now in front of the Hajara (inner Courtyard). The elephants are well carved and an equestrian is cantering on either side of the trunk of each. Ahead of the Mahadwara (in the west), a part of the courtyard stands a platform about four feet high on which the temple is raised.