Page "Hoysala architecture" Paragraph 7

Hindu temples began as simple shrines housing a deity and by the time of the Hoysalas had evolved into well articulated edifices in which worshippers sought transcendence of the daily world.

Hoysala temples were not limited to any specific organised tradition of Hinduism and encouraged pilgrims of different Hindu devotional movements.

The Hoysalas usually dedicated their temples to Lord Shiva or to Lord Vishnu ( two of the major Hindu gods ), but they occasionally chose a different deity.

Worshippers of Shiva are called Shaivas or Lingayats and worshippers of Vishnu are called Vaishnavas.

While King Vishnuvardhana and his descendants were Vaishnava by faith, records show that the Hoysalas maintained religious harmony by building as many temples dedicated to Shiva as they did to Vishnu.

Most of these temples have secular features with broad themes depicted in their sculptures.

This can be seen in the famous Chennakesava Temple at Belur dedicated to Vishnu and in the Hoysaleswara temple at Halebidu dedicated to Shiva.

The Kesava temple at Somanathapura is different in that its ornamentation is strictly Vaishnavan.

Generally Vaishnava temples are dedicated to Keshava ( or to Chennakeshava, meaning " Beautiful Vishnu ") while a small number are dedicated to Lakshminarayana and Lakshminarasimha ( Narayana and Narasimha both being Avatars, or physical manifestations, of Vishnu ) with Lakshmi, consort of Vishnu, seated at his feet.

Temples dedicated to Vishnu are always named after the deity.