Hoysala Dynasty

  • The Hoysalas, who began as provincial rulers under the Western Chalukyas, ruled Karnataka from the tenth to the fourteenth centuries.
  • The dynasty rose to prominence after the disintegration of the Chalukyas and the Cholas.
  • The Hoysala capital was originally located in Belur but was eventually relocated to Halebidu (or Dwarasamudra).

Important Rulers:

  • Nripa Kama II (963–966 CE)

    He is regarded as one of the early rulers of the Hoysala dynasty. His reign signaled the beginning of Hoysala’s authority in the region.

  • Vinayaditya (968-1008 CE)

    Increased and consolidated the Hoysala kingdom’s sovereignty. He contributed significantly to the dynasty’s early development.

  • Veera Ballala I (1048-1098 CE)

    He is one of the best-known Hoysala kings. During his reign, several well-known Hoysala temples were built, including the Chennakesava Temple in Belur.

  • Vishnuvardhana (1111-1152 CE)

    One of the most famous Hoysala rulers. He enlarged the realm and is credited with patronizing the construction of numerous Hoysala temples, including the Chennakesava Temple in Belur and the Hoysaleswara Temple in Halebidu.

  • Narasimha I (1152-1173 CE)

    Continued his dynasty’s financial backing of art and building. He was famed for building the Kesava Temple in Somanathapura.

  • Ballala II (1173-1220 CE)

    Was another important Hoysala ruler who maintained the dynasty’s patronage of art and building. He had clashes with the Kakatiya dynasty and the Yadavas of Devagiri.

  • Vira Narasimha II (1220-1235 CE)

    Succeeded Ballala II. He was also known as Narasimha III. During his reign, wars arose with the Chola dynasty and other neighboring powers.

  • Vira Someshwara (1235-1263 CE)

    Endured external attacks during his reign. Under his leadership, the dynasty began to decline.

  • Narasimha III (1263-1292 CE)

    Was one of the Hoysala dynasty’s last prominent monarchs. His reign marked a period of decline in which the dynasty steadily lost power.

Administration

  • The kingdom was divided into four provinces: Nadu, Vishaya, Kampana, and Desha, given in descending order of geographical size.
  • Below the provincial level, municipal officials were in charge of revenue collection, law enforcement, and administration.
  • Revenue officials, or Gavundas, were in charge of assessing and collecting agricultural taxes.
  • Senior ministers, known as Pancha Pradhanas, ministers in charge of foreign affairs, designated Sandhivigrahi, and the chief treasurer, Mahabhandari or Hiranyabhandari, oversaw top-level government affairs.
  • Dandanayakas led the army, and Dharmadhikari was the chief justice of the Hoysala court.
  • Local authorities, known as Nyayamurtis or Nyayadhishas, presided over local courts and assisted with the administration of justice.

Society

  • The contemporary documents that describe Queen Umadevi’s administration of Halebidu during Veera Ballala II’s lengthy military excursions in northern lands demonstrate the variation in the status of women as certain royal women were involved in administrative concerns. She also battled and vanquished a few adversarial feudal rebels.
  • Records document women’s participation in the fine arts, mentioning the dancing and singing prowess of Queen Shantala Devi.
  • The celebrated dedication to the bhakti movement of the twelfth-century poet and Virashaiva saint Akka Mahadevi is also highlighted.
  • She paved the way for women’s emancipation and provided an example of a transcendental perspective throughout that era.
  • It was common for the highly trained and talented Devadasi temple dancers to perform. Compared to other urban and rural women who were restricted to performing mundane tasks every day, they had greater flexibility because of their degrees.

Art and Culture

  • Royal support for regional Kannada scholars grew. Some academics wrote in the Champu mixed prose-verse style in the twelfth century, but Kannada metres gained popularity instead. Compositional Sangatya metres, Shatpadi and Tripadi metres (seven and three-line poems), and Ragale (lyrical poetry) all gained popularity.
  • Scholars like Janna, Rudrabhatta, Harihara, and his nephew Raghavanka were encouraged by the Hoysala court, and their works are now considered Kannada masterpieces.
  • Janna, a scholar of the Jaina faith, composed Yashodharacharite in 1209.
  • King Veera Ballala II abandoned the custom of offering human sacrifices. Further, he bestowed on Janna the title of “Emperor among poets” (Kavichakravarthi) in recognition of that effort.
  • King Veera Ballala II’s minister Chandramouli authored Jagannatha Vijaya, a narrative of Lord Krishna’s life preceding his battle with the demon Banasura, in the Champu style.
  • The Girijakalyana, written by the Virashaiva author Harihara (also called Harisvara), describes the marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati in ten sections and is written in the ancient Jain Champu style.
  • The philosopher Madhvacharya composed numerous polemical works refuting the beliefs of other schools of Vedas in addition to the Rigbhashya on Brahmasutras, a logical exposition of the Hindu scriptures, the Vedas.
  • The distinctive style and fine detailing of Hoysala art and architecture are well known.
  • Hoysala temple ceilings frequently include elaborate murals and patterns that, when viewed from below, produce a breathtaking visual impression.
  • The pillars in the Hoysala temples are renowned for their elaborately carved lathe-turned cylindrical form.
  • Hoysala sculpture has become famous for its skill and attention to detail. Beautifully carved statues of deities, mythological characters, animals, and scenes from epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana adorn the temples.

Decline

  • In the late 13th century, the Hoysala power had to contend with internal aristocratic strife and external challenges from the Delhi Sultanate.
  • The Hoysala rulers finally succumbed to weakness by the early 14th century and were subsumed by the Vijayanagara Empire.
  • The architectural and artistic legacy of the Hoysala Empire continues to be honoured. Their temples are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and well-liked tourist destinations.
  • In the disciplines of art and history, the dynasty’s contributions to South Indian culture and temple architecture are still highly recognized.