VIRUPAKSHA TEMPLE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Art & culture)

Context: A section of the pillars holding up the pavilion at Hampi’s Virupaksha temple collapsed recently following heavy rains.

Virupaksha Temple

• About: It is located in Hampi in the Vijayanagar district of Karnataka. 
• Dedicated to: Lord Virupaksha (Form of Shiva).
• UNESCO status: It is a part of the Group of Monuments at Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Construction: Built in the 7th century CE.

oExpanded between the 13th and 16th centuries

oConstructed by Lakkan Dandesha, a nayaka (chieftain) under Deva Raya II (Prauda Deva Raya) of the Vijayanagara Empire.

oSeveral portions expanded under Krishnadevaraya. 

• River: Tungabhadra river flow through Hampi.
• Architecture

oStructures: Over 1600 remains, including forts, temples, shrines, palaces, pillared halls, and more.

oNotable Temples: Krishna temple complex, Narasimha, Ganesa, Hemakuta group, Achyutaraya, Vitthala, Pattabhirama, Lotus Mahal. 

oUnique Features: Large Dravidian temples, cloistered enclosures, lofty towers, and hydraulic technologies.

oVitthala Temple: Known for its ornate structure, Kalyana Mandapa, Utsava Mandapa, Garuda shrine, and grand bazaar street.