VIRUPAKSHA TEMPLE AT HAMPI
The Virupaksha temple complex is situated on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra River at Hampi, in Hospet taluk, Bellary district in northern Karnataka. This temple was founded in pre-Vijayanagara times and was a place of worship under the Vijayanagara rulers and continues to play an active role in the religious life of the people and indeed the whole of South India. This temple complex has been continuously expanded and altered through the centuries and it is difficult to give a straightforward chronological history of this temple. This is a living worship temple right from its foundation.
The Virupaksha temple consists of a garbhagriha, an antarala, anti-chamber, sabhamandapa or navaranga and mahamandapa. The whole temple complex is surrounded by a prakara with pillared cloisters, entrances and small shrines in addition to a pillared mandapa. The garbhagriha is square and enshrines Siva Linga, which is being worshipped since its foundation and the God Virupaksha was the tutelary deity of the Vijayanagara rulers.
Chapter I and II deal with the Introduction and Historical Perspective Vijayanagara dynasty. Chapters III and IV deal with the Religious Background Characteristic Features of Vijayanagara Temples. Chapters V and VI deal with the Architectural Description of the Temple Complex Salient Features of the Temple Sculptures. Chapter VII and Chapter VIII deal with Shaiva, Vaishnava and Other Minor Sculptures in Temple as Socio-Religious Institutions. Chapter IX is a Conclusion with a sum of all the chapters.
Although, several scholars have dealt with the Virupaksha temple complex and Hampi temples, I have tried here to compile all the published information in the form of a compendium with due acknowledgements.
