Famous Temples in India

Architecture

The name Virupaksha means “with oblique eyes” or “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. This temple is facing in East direction. The eastern gateway is the greatest, It is nine-tiered and 50 (164 feet) meters in length, the lower two tiers of the tower is made of decorated stone work. The tower with a pair of cow horn like projections on top is the most prominent landmark in Hampi,made with brick and mortar. The inner Eastern gopuram is graced with three storeys and the Northern gopuram has five storeys. This temple rows of pillars shaped with rampant lion like mythical creatures (Yalis) standing on aquatic creatures (Makara or Crocodiles) and Warriors seem riding on these ferocious looking creatures. There is a stone slab beside the hall which has inscriptions that explain his offerings for the temple.

The main temple is east facing and has two large courtyards, one leading to the other. This courtyard mainly houses a pillared hall called 100-Column hall at the far left corner, Kalyanamantapa at the far right corner. The central pillared hall known as the Ranga Mandapa added to the temple complex in 1510 A.D. by Krishadeva Rayalu. Surrounding the Virupaksha temple are plenty of dilapidated mandapams. As the classic scene from Mahabharata depicting Arjuna's shooting the fish device in order to secure Draupadi's hand in marriage. There was an ancient shopping centre interlined with mandapams in front of this temple. A kitchen complex projects out of the compound overlapping the two courts at the south wall. A water channel system connected to the nearby river is built into the floor of the kitchen complex.