Political History:
- Hoysalas were feudatories of chalukyas of Kalyana.
- Dwarasamudra(Halebeedu) was their capital.
- Sala was the founder of this dynasty.
- He was succeeded by Vinayaditya and Balalla 1.
- Vishnuvardhana(Bittideva) was greatest in Hoysala dynasty.
- He completely routed Cholas from Gangavadi in battle of Talakadu, for this he got the title Talkadugonda.
- In commemoration of this victory he built kirtinarayana temple at Talakadu and Chennakesavar temple at Beluru.
Religion:
- Hoysalas patronized Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Jainism.
- Vishnuvardhana followed Jainism.
- He was influenced by Sri Ramanujacharya and converted into srivaishnavism.(remember we discussed in Cholas history that Ramajunacharya left srirangam in Tamil nadu and settled in Melukote, Karnataka).
Literature:
- Kannada and Sanskrit literature developed during this period.
- Important literary works in Kannada are
- Harihara-
- Raghavanka- Harishchandracharite
- Nemichandra- leelavati Prabhanda
- Janna-
Art and Architecture:
- Hoysalas combined Vesara and Dravida style and developed new Hoysala style.
- Important features of this style are
- Star shaped platform
- The jagati around the temple is the open pradakshinapatha.
- Polished pillar with variety of designs.
- Elaborate carvings and beautifully carved madanika figures.
- Vimana(shikara) in pyramidical shape.
- Most of their temples in Bhumija style. In this style miniature shikara is carved on the outerwall of the temple.
- Examples of Hoysala temples are.
- Channakeshava temple at Beluru
- Hoysaleshvara temple at Halebidu
- Keshava temple Somnathpura
- They constructed Jain Basadis also. Eg. Savathi Gandhavarana Basadi at Shravanabelagola.
Chennakeshava Temple, Belur
