The pillared hall and the sanctum sanctorum
The central hall (navaranga) in the Kesava temple at Belur is the largest of any Hoysala temple and is of the Triratha or the diamond-shaped layout. The navaranga hall has forty-eight pillars. All except the central four are carved uniquely. These four are later additions built to support the roof.
Left to right:
a. Exquisitely carved lathe-turned columns with floral patterns
b. Precision geometric designs on the lathe-turned columns
c. Intricate designs at the top of the column
Two pillars in the Navaranga are particularly notable. One is the Narasimha pillar here which is carved with miniature figures from top to bottom, such as a tiny bull (kadale basava). This pillar once could rotate but not anymore.
The other noteworthy pillar is the Mohini pillar. The Mohini pillar is a sixteen-fluted star-shaped pillar with a large enchanting figure of Mohini, the female avatar of Vishnu, flanked by a Chauri bearer (someone who holds a plaited wig) and a Garuda (Lord Vishnu's mount.) It is perhaps one of the finest examples of the Hoysala pillar craftsmanship. The pillar has eight bands of carvings, including those of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, then ten avatars of Vishnu, the eight direction deities (Dikpalakas), mythical animals with the body of a lion but the face of other animals.
In the centre of the hall is a large open square, above which is a domed ceiling about 10 feet in diameter and 6 feet deep. The central ceiling of the open square, the Mantapa, is an exceptional beauty carved on stone. The ceiling is in the shape of an inverted lotus placed between two concentric circles.
Left to right: a. Lord Narasimha carved on the base of the dome with a lotus flower in the middle.
b. Intricate carvings on the dome.
The Shilabalikas or Madanikas are atop the four pillars in the centre of the Mantapa. Left to right:
a. A madanika dressing her hair
b. A parrot seated on the arm of a madanika
c. Queen Shantaladevi
d. A celestial (Gandharva) dancer
The mantapa leads to the garbha griha past the pillars and a doorway.
This doorway is flanked by dvarapalas, the gatekeepers of Vishnu, Jaya and Vijaya. The lintel is decorated with Makara Torana and filigree works. There is a figure of Vishnu with Lakshmi in the middle of the arch.
Inside the square garbha griha is the sculpture of Keshava, or as inscriptions call it “Vijayanarayana”. It stands on a 3 feet high pedestal, is about 6 feet tall with a halo. The sculpture is shown with four hands, with chakra and shankha in the upper hands and a gada and lotus in his lower hands.