Historical Temples in Hampi

 Hampi is situated on the banks of the Tungabadra River. It is also called Pampa kshetra or Kishkindha Kshetra. To know the importance of this place then we have to go back to Tretha Yuga, Hampi is the place where Lord Rama and Lakshmana met Lord Hanuman for the first time.

In the Sri Krishnadevaraya administration, Hampi was considered as one of the beautiful city in India.

Let us see some interesting facts about each temple in Hampi:

1. Kodanda Rama Temple:

• Kodanda Rama temple is one of the oldest temples in Hampi.
• It is a huge idol of Lord Rama, Sitadevi and Lakshamana carved in a single big stone by King Sugriva. By this, we can conclude that temple was from Tretha yuga.
• This is the place where Lord Rama made the coronation(Patabhishekam) of Sugriva.

2. Virupaksha Temple:

• This temple was built by Vijayanagara King Sri Krishnadevaraya in the 7th Century. The main Gopuram is 165 feet in height with 11 floors. 
• The idol of Lord Shiva here is Swayambhu (self-proclaimed) and giving darshan to devotees in the form of Virupaksheeswara.
• The mystery here is when the sun rays pass through this Gopuram the shadow of this is seen upside down in a small room which is opposite to the main gopuram. (Many foreigners try to decode it but till date, the mystery remains the same).

• This is the place where Virupaksheeswara(incarnation of Lord Shiva) married Pambhavathi (incarnation of Devi Parvathi) considering above this place is most powerful and divine for the Devotees.

3. Vijaya Vitthala Temple:

• Lord Vitthala is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This Temple was build in the 15th century by the Vijayanagara empire.
• But the sad fact is at present there is no idol of Lord Vitthala as this temple and most temples nearby are destroyed by the Mughal rulers. History says these rulers invaded and destroyed these temples for a period of 6months in Hampi.
• Interesting elements of this temple:

    a) Musical pillars:

 It consists of a total of 56 musical pillars each one has its own tune. it was designed in a way like each main pillar is covered with 7 minor pillars to produce musical notes. Such an advanced technology they used at that time.

    b) Stone Chariot:

Stone Chariot is one of the pride and iconic monuments for India, constructed in the 15th century by Sri Krishnadevaraya. It consists of a huge Garuda idol on top of the chariot to symbolic of Lord Vishnu's Vehicle but the Garuda idol is taken away by the Britishers.

 Newly published INR 50 currency has the image of this Stone chariot.

   c) 15th-century shopping complex:

   where they used to sell bags full of rare jewelry, diamonds, etc. History says that International business used to happen there.

Everyone should visit Hampi at least once in a lifetime, we can see many temples of the previous yuga here and we can see the greatness of Ancient India.

Info of remaining temples in Hampi will be published in the next coming post.

Jai Shree RAM