Virupaksha Temple

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Virupaksha Temple
Virupaksha Temple - Hampi
Virupaksha Temple is located in the historic village of Hampi. The village of Hampi (historically
called Hampe) lies within the limits of the ruins of the Vijayanagara city. The word Hampi is derived
from the name Pampa (Lord Brahma’s daughter and the old name of River Tungabhadra), and
one of the regions around Hampi is still known as Pampa kshetra. As one makes a foray into the
ruins of Hampi, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one cannot escape the popularity and
prosperity of the bygone era that existed in the empire of the Vijayanagara dynasty.
The holy Virupaksha Temple stands in the center as the symbol of this greatness and grandeur of
the empire that flourished during the 14th – 16th century. The architectural wonder is a testament
to the times of a great, well developed and well-administered city. The history of the Virupaksha
Temple is inseparable from the story of the great city. The name Virupaksha means “with oblique
eyes”. Some also believe that the word means “misformed eyes” referring to the third eye of Lord
Shiva. It can also be inferred that “Virupa” meaning “Distorted” and “Aksha” meaning “Eyes”
refer to the occurrence of three eyes for Lord Shiva and consider that itself as a distortion.
Virupaksha Temple is also known as the Pampapathi Temple. The presiding deities of Virupaksha
Temple are Lord Virupaksha, a form of Lord Shiva and Goddess Pampa, his consort. This is only
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fully functioning Temple among several ruins of other Temples in the Hampi area.
Vijayanagara architecture is a mixture of Chalukya, Pandya, Hoysala and Chola styles. Virupaksha
Temple Complex consists of the Sanctum, three Ante-Chambers, two pillared halls, a pillared
quadrangle walkway known as the Cloister, three Gopurams, courtyards and several smaller
shrines. Besides the main shrine dedicated to Lord Virupaksha, other shrines are dedicated to
Goddess Bhuvaneswari and saint Vidyaranya is located within the Temple Complex. The pillared
Mandapam was built under Krishna Deva Raya in 1510 AD as per scriptures on the walls. This
Mandapam contains paintings and murals of several avatars of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The
murals on the ceilings also depict scenes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Among the three
Gopurams of the Temple, the Eastern Gopuram is the main entrance to the Temple. The Gopuram
is nine-storied and has a cuboidal structure. The Northern Gopuram is five stories high and the
inner-eastern Gopuram is three stories high.
The main sanctum houses the deity, Lord Virupaksha in the form of a Linga. The smaller shrines
dedicated to Goddess Pampa and Goddess Bhuvaneswari, consorts of Lord Shiva are situated to
the north of the Sanctum and are much older that most of the Temple.
The “Ruins of Hampi” or the “Hampi Complex” consists of several civil and religious buildings.
The important Temples inside the complex that one must visit to experience the spirituality of the
great kingdom are Vittala Temple, Ramachandra Temple, Underground Shiva Temple,
Kodandarama Temple, Krishna Temple and the Chandramouleeshwara Temple.
History and Legends of Virupaksha Temple
The origin of the Virupaksha Temple predates the origin of Vijayanagara as a city and as an
Empire. The main sanctum is believed to date back to 7th century. Several inscriptions
mentioning the greatness of Lord Shiva can be found on the walls of the Temple. They date
back to the 9th and the 10th century.
Several additions and renovations were carried out by the Chalukyas and the Hoysalas.
However, Virupaksha Temple flourished under the rule of the Vijayanagara Empire.
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Hampi was the capital of the Empire and was known as Vijayanagara. According to most of
the historians, the founders of the Empire Harihara I and Bukka (popularly known as the
Sangama brothers) were commanders in the Hoysala military. They were patronized and
supported by Sri Vidyaranya, a Saint belonging to the Sringeri monastery. Their main aim
was to thwart the invasion of the Deccan regions by the Muslim invaders from the North.
The Empire reached its peak during the reign of Krishna Deva Raya (1509-1529 AD).
During his reign, the whole Southern India was brought under his control. His army fought
off invasions by the Deccan Sultanates of Bijapur, Golkonda, Ahmadnagar, Bidar and
Berar. The Empire retrieved areas from the Deccan Sultanates in North and East regions.
The prosperity of the Empire began to decline after the death of Krishna Deva Raya. Rama
Raya, his son-in-law took control of the Empire and made some ill-advised decisions on the
political affairs of the Deccan Sultanate. Eventually in 1563, the rivals from the North who
were bitter with the Empire formed an alliance and declared war on the weakened
Vijayanagara Empire.
During the famous Battle of Talikota, Rama Raya was captured and killed. The Sultanate’s
army attacked Hampi and destroyed it into the present state of ruins. The Empire ceased to
exist after the reign of Sriranga III in 1646. The Empire split into the Mysore Kingdom,
Keladi Nayaka, Nayaks of Madurai, Nayaks of Tanjore, Nayaks of Chitradurga and Nayaks
of Gingee.
Virupaksha Temple has been named after a local deity named Pampa, who is believed to
be a form of Goddess Parvati. The origins of the Temple can be traced back to the
references in various Puranas of the Daksha Yagna episode in Hindu beliefs. To refute the
insult meted out by Daksha to Lord Shiva, Goddess Sati, Lord Shiva’s wife self-immolates.
Hearing this, Lord Shiva becomes extremely angry and performed the Tandava Dance with
Sati’s corpse in his hands. He destroys everything in his path. Eventually, to calm himself,
he reaches Hemakuta in Hampi and starts meditating. All the Gods decide that the only way
Lord Shiva could be happy again was to marry him again to Goddess Parvati.
The locals in Hampi believe that Pampa was the incarnation of Goddess Parvati who took
up meditation on the opposite bank of the River Tungabhadra. The Kama, the God of Love
and attraction brought Pampa to the attention of Lord Shiva. Pampa expressed the desire
to marry Lord Shiva and he eventually agreed. It is believed that Lord Shiva and Goddess
Pampa married at the place now known as the Virupaksha Temple.
Significance of the Virupaksha Temple
The main deity of the Virupaksha Temple, the Shiva Linga is believed to be one of the 64
Jyotirlingas that exist as per the Hindu religious beliefs. The Linga is believed to be
Swayambhu meaning self-manifested.
Virupaksha Temple is only fully functioning Temple belonging to the Vijayanagara area.
Other popular sites nearby such as the Vitthal Temple are masterpieces of architecture but
the worshiping of Gods and Goddesses have been discontinued at these places.
The Eastern Gopuram which is the main entrance of the Temple is constructed in such a
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way that the inverted shadow of the structure falls on the western wall of the Temple
through a small hole inside the Sanctum. The Gopuram is 160 feet tall. The Gopuram was
constructed in the first half of the 15th century and was renovated by Krishna Deva Raya.
Virupaksha Temple has been constructed in such a unique way that River Tungabhadra
flows along its terrace, descends to the Temple Kitchen and then flows through the outer
courtyard of the Temple.
A three-headed statue of Nandi can be seen installed near the main Temple entrance. This
statue is unique and rare in India.
The ancient city of Vijayanagara was inhabited by about 500,000 people during the 15th
century. That was 0.1% of total world population. It was the second largest city in the world
after Peking in Beijing. The importance of the city can be inferred from the fact that the size
of the city was about three times the size of Paris during that time.
The region of Hampi has been described in ancient scriptures as Kishkinda, the kingdom of
Vanaras (Monkeys). It is believed the Hanuman Temple in Hampi was the cave where Lord
Hanuman, his mother Devi Anjana, Kesari and Shabari resided. The holy pond
Pampasarovar houses the cave where Sugriva, King of the Vanaras is believed to have
made his home.
The Kodandarama Temple near the Virupaksha Temple marks the spot where Lord Rama
crowned Sugriva as the King of Vanaras or Monkeys.
The Stone chariot among the ruins of the Vittal Temple is considered as one of the three
finest chariots in India, the other two being in Konark and Mahabalipuram. The wheels of
the chariot could be rotated. But to prevent the damage caused by curious visitors, the
Government has now cemented the wheels. Another wonder of the Temple are the 56
musical pillars of the Temple. They are also fondly called as the SaReGaMa pillars. Each of
the pillars that support the roof of the main Mandapam represents a musical instrument.
Seven pillars surround this pillar. When struck, these seven stone pillars emanate seven
notes of music from the respective main instrument.
The Badavi Linga is the largest Linga among the ruins of Hampi. The Linga is situated
inside a chamber and the sanctum is perpetually filled with water. The Linga has three eyes
carved on it representing the three eyes of Lord Shiva.
The Chakratheertha, a holy Theertha in River Tungabhadra is a sacred place for devotees
to take a dip. It is believed that Lord Shiva gave the Chakra, a weapon to Lord Vishnu at
the very spot.
Virupaksha Temple Timings
The Temple opens at 9 AM and closes at 9 PM.
The Darshan remains closed from 1 PM to 5 PM.
Dress Code
The ruins of Hampi lie on a barren open land and it gets extremely hot during the summers. Hence,
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it is recommended to wear light, airy cotton clothes for the visit. The Temple does not follow any
strict dress code. However, it is recommended that decent and clean clothes should be worn to
visit the holy site.
Festivals celebrated at Virupaksha Temple
Mahashivaratri – The day is celebrated with great spirituality and reverence. Thousands of
devotees observe fast and pray to the God for good health and prosperity. The devotees
take a dip in River Tungabhadra and then visit the Temple for the divine darshan and
blessings from Lord Shiva. Bhajans and cultural programs are held at night. The
uniqueness of the celebration is that a huge Gold crown studded with rubies and diamonds
is placed on the Shiva Linga. The Linga is believed to be donated by the mighty Krishna
Deva Raya himself to commemorate his coronation. Shivaratri is one of the four special
days on which the crown is displayed to the public.
Annual Ratha Yatra – The annual Ratha Yatra of the deity, Sri Virupaksha and his wife
Goddess Pampa takes place during the months of March-April. The deities are placed in a
huge wooden chariot and taken in a procession along the main chariot street in Hampi. This
festival is the largest religious festival celebrated in the town of Hampi and is attended by
thousands of devotees from nearby areas.
Phalapuja festival – This festival is held in December every year. Special Poojas are
performed for the deities and Prasadam is distributed to the devotees. The day is
celebrated as the engagement day of Lord Virupaksha with Pampa. The celebrations take
place for three days. The Teppotsavam is conducted for the deities on the first day by
taking them around the Manmukha Kunda in a small boat like vehicle. A grand procession
of the deities takes place on the third day to the Kodandarama Temple in silver Vrishabha
Vahana.
Poojas and Rituals at Virupaksha Temple
Bilva Pathrarchana – The Archana is performed for the deity with the Bilva leaves on behalf
of the devotee.
Karpoora Aarti - The Aarti is performed for the Lord with Camphor known as the Karpoora
on behalf of the devotee.
Panchamrutha Abhishekam - The Lord is bathed with Panch Amrit (five elixirs) that are
Milk, Curd, Ghee, Honey and Sugar on behalf of the devotee.
Sahasranama Archana – The Lord is worshiped by reciting his 1008 names and singing
chants praising him on behalf of the devotee.
Maha Rudrabhishekam – This Abhishekam is done by reciting the four ancient holy texts;
Rigveda, Samveda, Yajurveda and the Atharva Veda in front of the Linga.
How to reach Hampi
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By Air – The nearest Airport is situated in Bellary, 60 km away. However, the Airport dows
not operate commercial flights. The Vidyanagar Airport, also known as the Jindal
Vijaynagar Airport located 40 km from Bellary operates sightseeing charter flights to Hampi.
The Hubli airport, located 3 hours away from Hospet connects Bengaluru and Belgaum.
By Train – The nearest railway station to Hampi is Hospet, situated 13 km away. Several
trains connect Hospet to cities like Bengaluru, Mysore, Goa, Vizag, Bhubaneshwar,
Vijayawada, Howrah, Kolhapur, Tirupati, Belgaum, Surat, Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Raichur and
Hyderabad. Other nearby stations are Guntakal and Hubli which are well connected to the
rest of the country like New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, and Kolkata. One can hire a taxi or
board a bus from Hospet, Hubli, and Guntakal to Hampi.
By Road – The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation runs several buses from cities
like Hospet, Bengaluru, Mysore, Mangalore, and Bellary. Several interstate buses also
operate out of neighboring states like Goa, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Private
operators also run buses daily to Hampi.
Where to stay
There are no hotels situated in the immediate vicinity of the Temple. However, several hotels,
lodges, and resorts have opened up in the surroundings of Hampi ruins. Some of the popular ones
are Sri Lakshmi Golden Beach Resorts, Royal Orchid Central, Hampi's Boulders Resorts and Hotel
Malligi.
Where to eat
The town of Hampi is becoming a major tourist attraction lately. Hence, a lot of restaurants have
been set up surrounding the world famous ruins. The cuisine offered by these restaurants vary
from simple south Indian to exotic cuisines like Italian and Portuguese. Some of the most popular
restaurants are Mango Tree, Laughing Buddha, New Shanthi, Ravi’s Rose and Sagar Hotel.
Contact
Phone: +91 9987769657
Contact us if you are looking for transportation, accommodation or pooja assistance at this temple.
Nearby Temples
Vittal Temple – The Temple is one of the most popular attractions of Hampi. The Temple is
famous for the movable stone chariot and the musical pillars. The architecture of the
Temple is immensely intricate and a wonder in itself. The Temple is dedicated to Lord
Vittala, a form of Lord Krishna.
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Chandramouleeshwara Temple – The 900-year-old Temple is one of the most popular
temples in Hampi. The intricately carved Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Achyutaraya Temple – The architectural wonder is dedicated to Lord Tiruvengalanatha, a
form of Lord Vishnu. The unique feature of the Temple is that it consists of two enclosures
instead of one.
Hazara Rama Temple – The Temple is believed to be the site where Lord Rama killed Vali,
the Vaanara King and Son of Indra. The sanctum lies empty. But the murals depicting the
Ramayana are worth visiting.
Besides these Temples, several monolithic statues depicting Lord Shiva (Badavi Linga),
Lord Vishnu (Lakshmi Narasimha) and Lord Ganapathi (Kadalekalu Ganesha and
Sasivekalu Ganesha) are a must visit.
Anjeyanadri Hill – The shrine dedicated to Lord Hanuman is situated atop the hill. The
small Temple is located at a distance of 5 km from Hampi. It is believed that Lord Hanuman
was born here to Mother Anjana. It is one of the important pilgrimage sites for Hindus all
over the country.
Badami Cave Temples – The world famous cave temples of Badami are located 100 km
away from Hampi. This historic group of five cave temples located on the banks of the
Malaprabha River dates back to 578 CE. The beautiful cave temples display remarkable
architecture and follow the Chalukyan style of sculpturing and construction. These Temples
are some of the earliest known Hindu Temples in the world. Caves 1 to 3 is dedicated to
Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The fourth cave is dedicated to Jain Teerthankaras and the
fifth cave is dedicated to Buddhist monks.
An aihole group of Temples – The Aihole group of Temples located about 140 km away
from Hampi, consists of about 125 Temples constructed under the Chalukyan period.
According to the legends, Aihole was the place where Lord Parashurama washed his ax
after annihilating 21 generations of Kshatriyas.
Pattadakal Temples – The Pattadakal group of Temples are situated 97 km away from
Hampi. The most prominent temple among a string of architectural wonders is the
Virupaksha Temple. The Virupaksha Temple in Pattadakal is a declared UNESCO world
heritage site. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and built around 740 AD. The Temple
was constructed by Queen Lokamahdevi to commemorate the victory of her husband
Vikramaditya over the Pallavas.
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