Ramayana Panels, Amruteshvara temple, Amruthapura, Chikkamagaluru

                            The Amruteshvara temple also spelt as "Amrutesvara" or "Amruteshwara" is located in the village of Amruthapura, in Tarikere Taluk of the Chikkamagaluru district. The temple is one among the few of the most beautifully preserved Hoysala temples. As per the inscriptions found here, this temple was built around 1196 AD by Amruteshwara Dandanayaka, an army general of the Hoysala king Ballala II. This ekakuta design temple built according to Hoysala architecture with a wide open mantapa, has an original outer wall with unique equally spaced circular carvings. The temple has a closed mantapa (hall) that connects the sanctum to the large open mantapa. The open mantapa has twenty nine bays, and the closed mantapa has nine bays with a side porch that leads to a separate shrine on the south side.

                             The outer parapet wall of the open mantapa has a total of hundred and forty panel sculptures with depictions from the Hindu epics. Unlike many Hoysala temples where the panels are small and carvings are miniature, these panels are comparatively larger. The Ramayana is sculpted on the south side wall on seventy panels, with the story proceeding quite unusually, in anti-clockwise direction. On the north side wall, all depictions are clockwise, a norm in Hoysala architectural articulation. Twenty five panels depict the life of the Hindu god Krishna and the remaining forty five panels depict scenes from the epic Mahabharata. 

                            

                               The Ramayana story is divided into seven main kandas as per Valmiki- Bala, Ayodhya, Aranya, Khishkinda, Sundara, Yuddha and Uttara Kanda. In this temple Uttara Kanda is missing. It almost touches all major incidents which happened and the artists have carefully considered the details to the maximum extent.

                           

Bala Kanda 

L:Raja Rishi Viswamitra approaches Raja Dasharatha and explains about the trouble created by Raksha Maricha and his brother Subahu and requests him to send Rama and Lakshmana to kill those Rakshas.
R: Viswamitra leading Rama and Lakshmana into the forest. The forest is depicted by the three trees in the top of the panel. Viswamitra is probably talking to Rama.

Ayodhya Kanda 

L: Vishwamitra leads Rama and Lakshmana to Mithila and meets the Raja Janak and he is explaining the valor of Rama and Lakshmana in killing the Rakshasa. Rama and Lakshmana are seen with their crowns depicting that they are princess and are carrying the bow. Raja Janak seated is seen keenly listening to Viswamitra and the royal umbrella is found. 

R: Seeta Swayamvara. Rama is seen in a courageous posture wherein he not only lifts the Shiva Dhanush (bow of Shiva), but also ties the ends with the string. Seeta is standing in the right and looking at Rama and she is ready to garland him.

Aranya Kanda

L: After Seeta's pester Rama ventures into the forest and follows the Mayamruga and makes a kill for it. Rama is shooting an arrow and the arrow is directly slicing through the neck of the Mayamuga as it is climbing a hill.
R: A golden deer or mayamruga appears in the forest. Seeta pesters Rama a lot to get the deer for her in spite of Rama telling her not to ask for it. All three Rama, Seeta and Lakshmana are looking at the Mayamruga which is running into the forest.

Khishkinda Kanda

L: Rama stamps his right leg on the snake, which is lying below the roots of the seven trees who are sages, cursed. With Rama stamping the snake, it becomes straight and with its straightening, the seven trees also straighten. Rama then shoots an arrow slicing all the seven the trees and killing the snake.
R: Rama is seen standing behind Vaali, in a sitting in posture leaving the arrow towards Vaali. As Vaali and Sugreeva were identical Vaali was made to wear a big garland. Rama is seen shooting Vaali from the back as he had this unique boon, as per which if anyone who fights face to face with him, half of the opponent strength will be transferred to Vaali.

Sundara Kanda

L:Vanaras building the bridge using the stones and boulders. Also, the sea is depicted by showing crocodile, fish, tortoise, crab, etc., and in the lower part of it Seeta can be seen waiting as she hears the news that Rama is building a bridge to reach Lanka.
R: Vibhishana, brother of Ravana appears in front of Rama and Lakshmana

Yuddha/Lanka Kanda

L: Ravana is falling down and is dieing. He is surrounded by women folk who are mourning his death and Vanaras are rejoicing his death.
R: Rama and Lakshmana(with folded hands) thanking Vibhishana for helping them in the fight and crowning him as the next Raja of Lanka