Virupaksha Temple

Virupaksha Temple is located in Hampi, Karnataka, India, in the Ballari district. It's part of Hampi's Group of Monuments, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lord Virupaksha, a form of Shiva, is honoured in this temple. The temple was established by Lakkan Dandesha, a nayaka (chieftain) under the Vijayanagara Empire's king Deva Raya II, also known as Prauda Deva Raya. The Vijayanagara empire's capital, Hampi, is located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River (Pampa hole/Pampa river). Virupaksha Temple is the most important pilgrimage site in Hampi, and it has long been regarded as the most sacred sanctuary. It is still performed in worship despite being surrounded by ruins. The temple is devoted to Lord Shiva as the consort of the local goddess Pampadevi, who is related with the Tungabhadra River and is known as Virupaksha/Pampa pathi. In the village of Nalagamapalle, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, around 100 kilometres from Tirupati, there is also a Virupakshini Amma temple (mother goddess).

Lakkan Dandesha

Virupaksha Temple Hampi Address: Hampi, Karnataka, 583239, India

History

The temple has a constant history dating back to the 7th century. The Virupaksha-Pampa sanctuary predates the establishment of the Vijayanagara capital. Shiva is mentioned in inscriptions from the 9th and 10th centuries. Under the Vijayanagara monarchs, what began as a tiny shrine evolved into a vast complex. Evidence suggests that the temple was expanded during the late Chalukyan and Hoysala periods, while the Vijayanagar period is credited with the majority of the temple's structures. Lakkana Dandesha, a chieftain under the Vijayanagara Empire's monarch Deva Raya II, constructed the massive temple structure. In the middle of the 14th century, under the Vijayanagara monarchs, a flowering of indigenous art and culture occurred. Most of the amazing decorative structures and achievements were methodically destroyed when the monarchs were defeated by Muslim invaders in the 16th century. The religious group of Virupaksha-Pampa survived the city's destruction in 1565. Throughout the years, people have continued to worship there. There were extensive renovations and additions at the beginning of the 19th century, including ceiling murals and the towers of the north and east gopuras.

Virupaksha Temple Hampi Address: Hampi, Karnataka, 583239, India

Architecture

A sanctum, three ante chambers, a pillared hall, and an open pillared hall make up the main temple today. Elegantly carved pillars highlight the interior. The temple is surrounded by a pillared cloister, entrance gateways, courtyards, smaller shrines, and other constructions.
The largest of the nine-tiered eastern gateways, at 50 metres, is well-proportioned and contains some older features. It features a stone foundation and a brick superstructure. It leads to the outer court, which has numerous sub-shrines.
The inner court, with its numerous tiny shrines, is accessed by the tiny eastern door.The Kanakagiri gopura, which faces north, leads to a small enclosure with subsidiary temples and, eventually, the river Tungabhadra.
The Tungabhadra River flows along the temple's terrace before descending to the temple kitchen and exiting through the outer court.
The use of mathematical concepts in the construction and decoration of this temple is one of its most outstanding elements. Fractals are displayed in the temple through repeated patterns. The temple's main shape is triangular.The patterns divide and repeat themselves as visitors look up the temple top, just like they might see in a snowflake or other natural beauty.
One of the most prominent monarchs of the Vijayanagara Empire, Krishnadevaraya, was a prominent supporter of this temple. The centre pillared hall, the most beautiful of all the temple's structures, is thought to be his contribution. As is the entrance tower that leads to the temple's inner courtyard. His contribution to the temple is described in inscriptions on a stone plaque put close to the pillared hall. In 1510 AD, Krishna Devaraya commissioned this hall to commemorate his accession.He was also responsible for the construction of the eastern gopuram. As a result of these extensions, the central shrine came to comprise only a small portion of the complex. The temple's halls were used for a variety of functions. Some were places where gods' images were put to watch extraordinary performances of music, dance, theatre, and other arts. Others were used to celebrate deity marriages.

The 3-Headed Nandi

The first was a Nandi with three heads (a bull that is the carrier of Shiva of the Hindu trinity). Virupaksha is unusual in that it is the only temple in India with such a large figure of Nandi. The origins of a Nandi like this are unknown, but it was most likely created to commemorate the three gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. “Anyone who comes to Hampi and does not see the 3-headed bull has not truly seen anything,” my guide claims.

Emblem of Vijayanagara Kingdom

The second is the Vijayanagara Kingdom's insignia, which is inconspicuously etched into a rock on my right. It is completed by Varaha (wild boar), the sun, the moon, and a dagger. Even today, visitors will see plenty of wild boars as they go through Hampi.

The Inner Sanctum

Visitors must remove their shoes at a plain shoe stand before entering the inner courtyard, which holds the inner sanctum and the Ranga Mandapa that leads to it. A large elephant is being fed by its mahout to my left. Surprise, surprise, surprise! There's even an elephant at the temple!
The major shrine is in front, and it appears to be bustling with activity. Smaller peripheral temples are on right side.

A Wedding in the Temple

Visitors can't believe their eyes when guides tell them there's a wedding going on within the temple, one of the most distinctive Indian experiences. A wedding is one of the most one-of-a-kind occasions. The chanting of mantras fills the space, and the colours are bright. White is chosen by both the bride and the husband. They arrived just in time to take in the final moments of the celebrations.

The Murals

Visitors look up to the ceiling to display some very magnificent murals as people enter the Ranga Mandapa. Some of these have been badly restored, resulting in more deterioration. But what's remained is stunning.
The murals on the Ranga Mandapa's ceiling are the most colourful. However, a handful can still be seen in the temples on the outskirts. These paintings, which date back over 600 years, portray Hindu mythology scenarios. The Ranga Mandapa was the central focus of all social activities. This location was undoubtedly the most ornately decorated, with sculptures and paintings to portray the King's supremacy.
After the wedding, inside the Ranga Mandapa.

An Inverted Gopura!

The visitors' guide then hurriedly hurries us out and leads us to a nearly-secret chamber in the temple's back. I say almost because, like in any other part of India, we weren't the only ones there! Another pair is accompanied by a guide, who informs us that this is most likely one of the guide's many trade secrets. In front of us is a little hole in the wall, and we wait for my guide to climb up and perform some acrobatics. On the wall behind us, we notice an inverted shadow of the Gopura. When a little hole creates a pinhole effect, an upsidedown shadow appears, and when this occurs in a respected location, a variety of hypotheses develop.

Deity

Pampa pathi or Virupaksha (Shiva)

Religious Activities

Daily Routine

All days of the week
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Celebration/Festivals

The temple continues to grow, attracting large audiences during the Virupaksha and Pampa betrothal and marriage ceremonies in December.
Every year in the month of February, the annual chariot festival is held here.

Visitor Guide

AIRWAYS

Bellary, 350 kilometres from Hampi, is the nearest international airport. From Bellary to Hampi, tourists can take a taxi.

RAILWAYS

Hospet, some 13 kilometres away, is the nearest railway station. Hospet has excellent connections to larger cities like as Bellary and Bangalore. To go to Hampi, tourists normally hire a cab from Hospet. The distance between Bangalore and Hampi is 288 kilometres.

ROADWAYS

From Bellary, Hospet, and Bangalore, tourists can take a bus to Hampi. Passengers can choose between Volvo and AC buses. Cabs are also available for travellers.

Nearby Temples

Nearby Tourist Places

Vijaya Vittala Temple

Vijaya Vittala Temple, also known as Hampi's Vijaya Temple, is one of the historical Hampi attractions worth seeing. The pillars here look to be playing music, and there are amazing stone buildings all around.
Hampi's architectural quality is exemplified by this structure, which demonstrates exceptional ingenuity and the beauty of architecture's imagination. This temple's architecture is Dravidian in style and displays South Indian influences.
The temple is surrounded by massive compound walls and three tall gates. The MahaMantapa, Stone Chariot, and Musical Pillars are among of the Vijaya Vittala Temple's tourist attractions.

Lotus Mahal

Among all the tourist attractions in Hampi, Lotus Mahal or Kamal Mahal has a distinct architectural design. It gets its name from the fact that it resembles a lotus flower in shape.
The Mahala's central dome is shaped like a lotus blossom, with the balcony and corridors resembling petals. The roof features a multi-layered design that is reflective of Indo architecture. There are around 24 pillars to offer great support for the palace's arched windows.

PurandaradasaMantapa

Near Vijaya Vittala Temple, Hampi India
0.2 km from Virupaksha Temple
Matanga Hill
Hampi 583239 India
1.1 km from Virupaksha Temple