Vitthala Swamy Temple at Hampi

About The Book The Victuals temple is one of the biggest best examples of true typical Vijayag style of 15th century A situated on the southern bank of Tungabhadra River in the Vitthalapura at Hampi. Hospet taluk, Bellary district in Northern Karnataka. Hampi is now a small village, once played an important role as the capital of 65 A Empire, who ruled from 1336 to 1 and shifted their capital from Hampi to Chandragiri and Penugunda in Andhrs Pradesh, after the battle of Rakkasigi Tangadigi at Talikota in 1565 A.D.

The whole Vitthala temple complex on plan consists of a garbhagriha, antarala, pradkashinapatha around garbhagriha and antarala, sabhamantapa or navaranga with mukhamantapa, towards north and south, mahasabhamantapa or maharangamantapa with entrances on three sides, towards east, north and south, kalyanamandapa, uyalamandapa, bhoamandapa, nuru kambadamantapa, Amman shrine, parivara shrines, vahana shrine in the form of a stone chariot and enclosed by prakara with three gat high walled three gateways on the east, north and south and gopuras. The gate gateways are intact and upper portion of gopuras are in ruined condition. The Vitthala temple was in full swing, active and the image of Vitthala was worshipped till 1565 A.D., when Vijayanagara was taken and sacked after the battle of Rakkasigi-Tangadigi at Talikota.

The Chapter I and II deal with Introduction and Historical Perspective of Vijayanagara dynasty. The Chapter III and IV deals with Religious Background and Characteristic Features of Vijayanagara Temples. The Chapter V and VI deals with Builders of the Temple and Architectural Description of the Temple Complex. The Chapter VII and VIII deals with Salient Features of the Temple Sculptures and Iconography and Temple served as Socio-Religious Institution. The Chapter IX deals with contemporary and similar type of Vitthala temple at Mulabagilu in Kolar district and the Chapter X is a Conclusion with sum up of all the chapters.

Although, a number of scholars have dealt with Vitthala temple complex and Hampi temples, the author have tried here to compile all the published information in the form of a compendium with due acknowledgements.

About the Author Dr. K.M. Suresh (Born 1952) former Registrer Retired of Hamp, under (Museum) the Kannada University, Hampi Karnataka, obtained his M.A.. Kamataka University, Dharwad and P.G. Diploma Archaeology from Institute Archaeology, Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi 1986. He obtained Ph.D, Utkala University, Bhubaneswar, Orissa in on "Sculptural Hampi, under the guidance Late Behera, Department of History.

Since his inception the Archaeological served in various capacities the Archaeological Museums at Bijapur, Aihole Badami Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. has been field worker and excavator the Excavations Branch IV Archaeological of India, Bhubaneswar in Orissa.

Suresh has published more 22 books Orissa Madhya Pradesh, which includes Sculptural Art Hampi; Saivite Sculptures Khajuraho; The Iconography of Vishnu Khajuraho; Kandariya Mahadeva Temple Khajuraho; Lakshmana Temple at Khajuraho: Karnataka Devalaya Kosha: District; Karnataka Devalaya Koppala District; Temples of Temples of Vol. II: Archaeology of Ramayana Sculptures from Hampi; Vijayanagara Hampi; Encyclopedia of Architecture: Hindu, Buddhist, Jain Hemakuta: Recent Researches Archaeology Museology: Panchatantra: Recent Researches in Archaeology: Raghusmriti: Recent Reseaches Archaeology. Temple Orissa.

member many academic societies Kannada University, Hampi and for other Universities. He UGC Committee for Museology Conservation and Archaeology also Committee Member History and Archaeology.

present, working Visiting Professor in Institute Science Campus, Bangalore, The Indian Digital Heritage Project Hampi.

Preface During my service as a Curator in the Archaeological Museum of the Archaeological Survey of India at Kamalapura from 1978 to 1983, I got an opportunity to make an in-depth study of Iconography and Temples of the Vijayanagara period from circa 1336 to 1600 A.D. This course leads me to the documentation of a good quantum of information and detailed notes on Sculptural Art and Vitthala Temple Complex at Hampi. After coming to Kannada University, Hampi, from Archaeological Survey of India, I could complete the documentation of a sculptures and temple complex in detail and able to present in the book form.

The Vitthala temple is one of the biggest and best examples of true typical Vijayanagara style of 15th century AD, situated on the southern bank of Tungabhadra River in the Vitthalapura at Hampi. The Vitthala temple was in full swing, active and the image of Vitthala was worshipped till 1565 A.D., when Vijayanagara was taken and sacked after the battle of Rakkasi-Tangadi at Talikota.

The Chapter 1 and 2 deals with Introduction and Historical Perspective of Vijayanagara dynasty. The Chapter 3 and 4 deals with Religious Background and Characteristic Features of Vijayanagara Temples. The Chapter 5 and 6 deals with Builders of the Temple and Architectural Description of the Temple Complex. The Chapter 7 and 8 deals with Salient Features of the Temple Sculptures and Iconography and Temple served as Socio-Religious Institution. The Chapter 9 deals with contemporary and similar type of Vitthala temple at Mulabagilu in Kolar district. The Chapter 10 is a Conclusion with sum up of all the chapters.

Although, a number of scholars have dealt with Vitthala temple complex and Hampi temples, I have tried here to compile all the published information in the form of a compendium with due acknowledgements. I am thankful to my colleague and friend Dr.S.Y. Somashekar for his unstinted assistance. My thanks would be incomplete without acknowledgements for my wife Smt. Gauri Suresh, who throughout the process for this work was a source of inspiration to me. Last, but not the least, my hearty thanks to Shri Abhishek Goel of Kaveri Books, New Delhi for his kind co-operation, quick and beautiful printing work.

Introduction Hampi, is now a small village, situated (Lat. 15-20 N and Long 70-30' E) on the southern bank of the river Tungabhadra, in Hospet Taluk of Bellary district of Karnataka', played an important role as capital city of Vijayanagara empire from 1336 to 1565 A.D., overing whole of South India. The place is a hallowed resport, being surrounded by hills of Puranic fame and situated close to the perennial water flow in the river Tungabhadra. The places like Hemakuta hill, Pampasarasas where Parvati did penance to win the hands of Siva, Rishyamukha-ashrama, the abode of Anjanadhri, the ashrama of Matangarishi, and the cave dwelling of Sabari, as mentioned in the Skanda purana and the Ramayana were all said to have been here and are traditionally identified by the local people even now. The word Hamper or Hampi is generally held to be a later Kannada form of the ancient term Pampa. During the medieval period, Hampi was also known as Pampakshetra, Bhaskarakshetra, Pampa Tirta (of the Ramayana fame), Pampa, and so on. References to the site in inscriptions, copper plate grants and literary works are numerous.

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