Krishnapuram – A Temple of Timeless Sculptures - Part 4

 About 13 km from Tirunelveli lies Krishnapuram, a historically significant village home to a magnificent temple dedicated to Venkatachalapati. Tradition holds that those unable to visit the famous Tirupati temple can offer their prayers here at this 16th-century shrine.

Typically, temple descriptions begin with details of the deity, architecture, history, and legends before touching upon sculptures. However, the true highlight of this temple is its breathtaking, life-sized sculptures from the Nayaka period. Their craftsmanship is extraordinary—so detailed and lifelike that one could spend an entire month revisiting the temple just to admire them. With photography prohibited, experiencing them in person becomes even more special.

Since my primary focus is on these sculptures, I will break from convention and begin with them before covering other aspects of the temple.

Upon entering through the gopuram, to the right (on the northern side), stands the imposing Veerappa Nayakka Mandapa. This hall features six rows of pillars, with the front six adorned with exquisite, life-sized sculptures.

This is the fourth article in my series. In my previous pieces, I described the first three sculptures—positioned at the eastern end and facing south—depicting a striking Kurathi, a Kurathi abducting a prince, and Arjuna. Now, let’s explore the fourth pillar from the eastern end.

The sculpture on this pillar represents Karna, the valiant warrior of the Mahabharata, captured in a dynamic tribhaṅga (triple-bend) posture. His right hand is raised, holding a serpent, signifying the Nagastra. His left hand once held a bow, now broken. His face bears a composed expression, with a confident gaze that radiates Vīra Rasa (heroic sentiment). He is adorned with an elaborate kiritamukuta (crowned headdress), multiple hāra (necklaces), keyura (armlets), and a katibandha (waistband), reflecting the traditional iconography of a Kshatriya warrior. A sharp mustache frames his determined face, adding to his regal presence.

The other sides of the pillar feature equally intriguing sculptures. One depicts a Kuravan, his mustache accentuating his expressive face, dancing in a pose reminiscent of Nataraja, with his left leg raised and bent. He holds a staff in his arm, while a monkey perches on his shoulder. His hair is styled in a prominent bun.

Two smaller figures also adorn the pillar—one of a graceful Chāmara-bearing girl, and the other, a beautifully sculpted dancing girl.

Happy travelling.

This is Part 4 of the series of articles on Krishnapuram Temple. If you are interested to read the earlier parts of the series, click the links below.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3