MADANIKAS In Belur

Queen Shantala , Hoysala Dynasty - Famous Dancer 

Queen Shantala was the wife of King Harshavardhana who happened to be the most famous and glorified king of Hoysala dynasty. she was also a great dancer who used to offer her talent to the Lord Chenna Keshava in the dancing Hall ) Nrutya Mandapa ) of the temple.
a sculpture named " Chavana" has beautifully carved the mood of queen Shantala dancing to the beats of drummer in the temple ha;;. Hence this beautiful sculpture is called as " NATYARANI SHANTALA " or Dancing Queen Shantala.
In Belur temple, there are 38 freestanding bracket figures angled between the upper walls and the over hanging eaves around the outside of the temple and Navaranga ( pillared hall ) . The brackets are adorned with voluptuous beauties known as MADANIKAS in various dancing and ritual postures and depicts an amazing variety sculpted forms.

This is the statue of a lady who is trying to dry hair  fast squeezing the wet hair. One can also observe her assistants standing side by to assist the lady getting ready . The creeper behind the lady is delicately carved with many monkeys and birds in it giving a very natural look to it. 

Bhasmasura Mohini : Enchanting Lady

This carving of Mohini in dancing form to entice the demon Bhasmasura is one of the prettiest carving of all bracket figures of Belur Temple ( ShilaBalika ) . The dancing posture and ever lasing beauty of Mohini will take one to the land of Indian philosophy .Demon Bhasmasura was a great devotee of Lord Shiva who was blessed with fire in his hand.Bhasmasura once attempted to burn Lord Shiva by keeping his fire hand on Shiva's head. Lord Shiva realizing Bhasmasura's  evil thought disappeared and pleaded lord Vishnu to rescue him from the situation . This is when Lord Vishnu incarnated as Mohini in beautiful female form to entice the demon Bhasmasura and killed him trickfully 

Visha Kanya : Poisonous Woman

This marvelous piece of art depicts a naked woman observing a Scorpio near her left foot while draping her saree . She is fearless woman and having least bothered attitude. She is a VISHA KANYA in their palace and such a woman was used as a silent weapon against the enemy to kill..

Darpan Sundari

This beautiful lady is seen getting ready by looking into the hand mirror .Though she is well decorated with exclusive jewelries , she is not happy by looking at her facial expression. It seems that she is waiting for her lover to aaive. At the same time one can see a servant holding grapes in her right hand and a monkey in left hand . She is showing the grapes to monkey but not feeding it as a result the disappointed monkey is licking its fingers in the quest of the grape. 

HERE DISAPPOINTED MONKEY IS JUST LIKE DISAPPOINTED WOMAN WHO IS WAITING FOR A LOVER 

Beautiful Carving - Outsider Vandalism at Belur

MADANIKA IN CONVERSATION WITH HER PARROT

MOHINI
Many invades have always tried destroying the temples which was multi faceted platform of Indian culture and history;Royal families of mughal, Khilji, Ghajni and British are some of the well known names who destroyed many temples in India leaving them in a bad state of vandalism. Insider or local vandalism is also seen  because of lack of heritage awareness.

( REF: JEWEL BOX OF INDIA , VOL 1 by Dr Neelkanth Kote - Photos Neelima Gangakhedkar )