File:Vishnu carved on the chennakeshava temple, somanathapura.jpg

English: Outside the temple, a Vishnu is carved on a monolithic structure. The beauty of the structure construed in 1258CE tells the knowledge level of people at the time. When observed closely, we can see the detailed explanation of the Vishnu's form -Vishnu who is the only lord of all and most beautiful, in one form is given 4 hands each representing 4 desires and duties of humans, namely dharma (right rituals), artha (richness), kaama (good desires and thoughts) and moksha (salvation). In each hand, he holds a charka (a spinning weapon or wheel), a conch, mace and a flower. The spinning weapon is the representation of life running on a chariot where its wheels always move in direction of divine. The weapon can also be thought which destroys the sins. The conch represents the richness of leading life by the melodious sound of lord’s name. Mace is indication of destruction of negative thoughts arising in the mind and flower (lotus) is the indication of peace and beauty of nectar of divine in the heart because of god’s grace.