Virupaksha Temple, Hampi – The Temple

Virupaksha Temple, Hampi – The Temple

This Temple is facing towards east with nine tiered Rajagopuram and has two prakaras. This Rajagopuram is about 160 feet tall. This tower has been built such that an inverted shadow of this huge tower falls on the western wall of the temple through a small hole behind the sanctum. There is a second level three tiered gopuram to the inner prakara.

Deepa Sthamba, Bali Peedam, Dhwaja Sthamba and Nandi can be found immediately after the second level gopura, facing the sanctum. There is a five-tiered gopuram on the northern side of prakaram. It is popularly called as Kanakagiri Gopura. This gopura leads to group of temples with Manmatha Tank and further leads to the river.

The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, two Antralas, Navaranga, Ranga Mandapa and Pradakshina Pada. The Navaranga can be entered through north, south and eastern side. The north and southern side entrance have porches. The east side entrance leads to Ranga Mandapa. Nandi can be found in the centre of Navaranga on raised platform facing the sanctum.

The Sanctum is square in plan surrounded by the Pradakshina Pada. Presiding deity is called as Virupaksheeswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Linga. The Vimana over the sanctum is of two tiers. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be seen in his usual location. Vahana Mandapa can be seen at the eastern corner of the inner prakaram.

Pampa Devi Shrine is situated on the western prakaram. Her shrine is facing towards south. Her Shrine consists of Sanctum, Antrala and Navaranga. Idols of Hanuman and Dhanvatri can be seen on a raised platform next to Pampa Devi Shrine. Sayana Griha of Virupaksha can be seen nearby.  Bhuvaneshwari Shrine is situated in the inner prakaram. Her shrine consists of Sanctum and Sabha Mandapa. Her shrine is facing towards south.

Gulaganji Madhava Shrine is situated near Bhuvaneshwari Shrine. This Shrine is facing towards east. The sanctum houses a Linga on a circular pitha. An idol of Lord Vishnu is placed on the western wall called as Gulaganji Madhava. There is a shrine to Vidyaranya, the spiritual founder of Vijayanagar in this temple.

There are shrines for Venkateswara, Hanuman, Rudraksha Linga, Ratna Garbha Ganapati, Chamundeshwari, Vahini Durga Devi, Kala Bhairavi, Suryanarayana, Pataleswara, Navagrahas, Nava Durga, Tarakesvara, Mukthi Narasimha, Ganapathy, Bhairava, Saraswathi, Mahishasura Mardhini, Kumaraswamy, Thandaveswara, Anjaneya and Vinayaga, in the temple premises.

The outer enclosure houses a 100 pillared hall called  Kalyana Mantapa at the far-right corner, administrative offices, the ticket counter, a police outpost and an old well. A kitchen complex projects out of the compound overlapping the two courts at the south wall. A narrow passage on the wall of the 100 pillared hall gives access to the kitchen.

A narrow channel of the Tungabhadra River flows along the temple's terrace and then descends to the temple-kitchen and out through the outer court. There are several dilapidated mandapams can be seen around this temple. There were ruins of ancient shopping centre interlined with mandapams in front of this temple.

Murals dating back to Vijayanagara period can be seen in the temple premises. Most of the outstanding murals like Vidyaranya, the spiritual founder of Vijayanagar in procession, story of Dikpalakas, ten incarnations of Vishnu, Girija Kalayana, scene from Mahabharata depicting Arjuna's shooting the fish device in order to secure Draupadi hand in marriage, Tripurari etc. can be seen in Ranga Mantapa.