Temple Description

The temple is three shrined (trikutachala), has a garbhagriha (sanctum), and a vestibule (antarala) that connects the sanctum to a closed mantapa (inner hall, navaranga) which opens into a large pillared gathering hall (mahamantapa). The navaranga has two shrines at north and south. The temple stands on a platform called jagati and is constructed with soap stone material. The mahamandapa opens into a jagati, on the eastern side. In the sanctum, the image of god Kesava, six feet high, stands on a Garuda pedestal called Saumyakeshava. The basic plan of the shrine (mulaprasada) is stellate (star shaped). The temple is a large structure and has received patronage by multiple dynasties and reveals features of the later day Vijayanagara empire, whose rulers added the entrance and tower over it (mahadvara) and also added the bounding walls (prakara). The tower over the entrance (gopuram) is a 7- tiered, tall lime and brick structure that is adorned by Hindu gods, goddesses and other decorative structures. The central mandap in front of the main deity sannidhi, has an intricately carved stone structure in which we can see Adhiseshan engraved in the middle of the structure. Around the Adhiseshan, 108 conches (shanku) are engraved. Head of the Adhiseshan is believed as Raghu and tail is believed as Kethu.