Hampi

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Group of Monuments at Hampi*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Hampi
State Party Flag of India India
Type Cultural
Criteria (i)(iii)(iv)
Reference 241
Region** Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription 1986  (10th, 15th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List.
** Region as classified by UNESCO.

Hampi (Kannada: ಹಂಪೆ, Hampe in Kannada), refers to a village in northern Karnataka. The name "Hampi" comes from the anglicized version of the Kannada Hampe (derived from Pampa, the ancient name for the Tungabhadra river). Over the years, it has also been referred to as Vijayanagara and Virupakshapura (from Virupaksha, the patron deity of the Vijayanagara rulers).

Hampi, located within the ruins of Vijayanagara, served as the capital of the Vijayanagara empire. Possibly predating the city of Vijayanagara, the village continues as an important religious center, housing the Virupaksha Temple. The village of Hampi contains several other monuments belonging to the old city. It extends into some of the old ceremonial streets of Vijayanagara. Standing at the original center of Vijayanagara, people sometimes confuse the village with this ruined city. Hampi also goes by the name "The City of Ruins". UNESCO has designated the Vijayanagara ruins as a World Heritage Site within the Group of Monuments at Hampi title.[1]

History

A Hindu temple naga decoration at Hampi.

Hampi identifies with the mythological Kishkindha, the Vanara (monkey) kingdom which finds mention in the Ramayana. The first historical settlements in Hampi date to 1 C.E. Hampi formed one of the centers of the capital of the Vijayanagara empire from 1336 to 1565. Moslem emperors destroyed it. The founders of Hampi selected the site for its strategic location, bounded by the torrential Tungabhadra river on one side and surrounded by defensible hills on the other three sides.

In terms of architecture and history, the site has immense significance. Abundant large stones had been used to create life like statues of gods. Structure of historic importance stand every quarter of a mile. Sadly the city stands in ruins, a testimony to the Islamic ravages of the sites. The conquerers considered the statues at Hampi idols, destroying or damaging all of them. Successive governments have been unable to protect the site from looters and treasure hunters who further damaged the site. The Archaeological Survey of India has been conducted continuous excavations of the site to discover more artifacts and temples.

Geography

Hampi overview

Hampi sits on the banks of the Tungabhadra river, 353 km from Bangalore, 254 km from Bijapur and 74 km away from Bellary. Hospet, the nearest taluka headquarters, sits 13 km away. The majority of the people speak Kannada. Agriculture, the support of the Virupaksha temple and other holy places in the vicinity, and tourism represent the principal pillars of the village's economy. The Government of Karnataka organizes the annual Vijayanagar Festival in November. Mining rich deposites of iron-ore and manganese proves work and brings money into the region. A recent increase in demand for iron-ore internationally has led to excessive mining in the district. The World Heritage Site at Hampi, as well as the Tungabhadra Dam, have been endangered by the excessive mining.


File:Hampi5.JPG
Temple Tank

Important sites at and near Hampi

Hampi
Hampi
Hampi
  • Achyutaraya Temple/Tiruvengalanatha Temple
  • Akka Tangi Gudda
  • Anegondi
  • Anjeyanadri Hill
  • Aqueducts and Canals
  • Archaeological Museum, Kamalapura
  • Badava Linga
  • Balakrishna Temple
  • Bhima’s Gate
  • Bhojanasala
  • Chakratirth
  • Chandrashekara temple
  • Coracle crossings
  • Danaik's enclosure
  • Elephant Stables
  • Ganagitti Temple
  • Gejjala Mandapa
  • Guard’s quarters
  • Hampi bazaar
  • Hazara Rama temple
  • Hemakuta Hill
  • Jain temples
  • Kadale Kalu Ganesha
  • Kings Audience Hall
  • Kondarama Temple
  • lotus mahal[1]
  • Mahanavami Dibba
  • Malayavanta Raghunatha temple
  • Malyavanta Hill
  • Matunga Hill
  • Mint
  • Octagonal bath
  • Octagonal Water pavilion
  • Pampa Sarovar
  • Pattaabhi Rama temple
  • Purandaradasa mandapam
  • Pushkarani or the Stepped Tank
  • Rishimukh
  • Royal enclosure
  • Saraswati Temple
  • Sasive Kalu Ganesha
  • Sita Konda
  • Sugriva's Cave
  • The Kings’ balance
  • The Underground Temple
  • Tungabhadra River
  • Uddana Veerabhadra temple
  • Ugra Narasimha
  • Virupaksha Temple
  • Vittala temple
  • Yeduru Basavanna
  • Yentrodharaka Anjaneya temple
  • Zenana enclosure
  • Virupapurgadde

Temples

Hampi has various notable Hindu temples, some of them which are still active places of worship. Some of them are:

  • Virupaksha Temple complex: Also known as the Pampapathi temple, it is a Shiva temple situated in the Hampi Bazaar. It predates the founding of the Vijayanagar empire. The temple has a 160 foot high tower at its entrance. Apart from Shiva, the temple complex also contains shrines of the Hindu goddesses Bhuvaneshwari and Pampa.


Virupaksha Temple

Virupakska Temple

Virupaksha Temple is located in Hampi 350 km from Bangalore, in the state of Karnataka in southern India.

Hampi sits on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in the ruins of the ancient city of Vijayanagar, capital of the Vijayanagara empire. Virupaksha Temple is the main center of pilgrimage at Hampi and has been considered the most sacred over the centuries. It is fully intact among the surrounding ruins and is still used in worship. The temple is dedicated to Shiva, known here as Virupaksha, as the consort of the local goddess Pampa who is associated by local mythology with the Tungabhadra River.

History

Historically this temple has an uninterrupted history from about the 7th century. The Virupaksha-Pampa sanctuary existed well before the the Vijayanagara capital was located here. Inscriptions referring to Shiva date back to the 9th and 10th centuries.[2] What started as a small shrine grew into a large complex under the Vijayanagara rulers.[3] Evidence indicates there were additions made to the temple in late Chalukyan and Hoysala periods but most of the temple buildings are attributed to the Vijayanagar period.[4]

Under the Virjayanagara rulers early in the 12th century, there began a flowering of native art and culture. When the rulers were defeated by invadors in the 16th century, most of the wonderful decorative structures and creations were systematically destroyed.[5]

The cult of Virupaksha-Pampa was not destroyed after the destruction of the city in 1565. Worship there has continued throughout the years. At the beginning of the 19th century there were major renovations and additions including ceiling paintings and the towers of the north and east gopura.[6]

Temple structure

At present, the main temple consists of a sanctum, three ante chambers, a pillared hall and an open pillared hall. A pillared cloister, entrance gateways, courtyards, smaller shrines and other structures surround the temple.[7]

The nine-tiered eastern gateway, which is the largest at 50 meters, is well-proportioned and incorporates some earlier structures. It has a brick superstructure and a two-tiered stone base. It gives access to the outer court containing many sub-shrines.

The smaller eastern gateway leads to the inner court with its numerous smaller shrines.

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.[8]

Krishnadevaraya, one of the famous kings of the Vijayanagara Empire was a major patron of this temple. The most ornate of all structures in the temple, the central pillared hall is believed to be his addition to this temple. So is the gateway tower giving access to the inner courtyard of the temple. Inscriptions on a stone plaque installed next to the pillared hall explain his contribution to the temple. It is recorded that Krishna Devaraya commissioned this hall in 1510 C.E.

[9]

Festivals

The temple continues to prosper and attracts huge crowds for the betrothal and marriage festivities of Virupaksha and Pampa in December.

In the month of February the annual chariot festival is celebrated here.


Pictures

  • Another Hampi Monument.jpg

    Vijay Vittal Temple

  • Hazara Rama rearview DK.jpg

    Hazara Rama Temple

  • Bala Krishna Temple

  • Stonechariot Vitthala hampi.jpg

    Stone chariot

  • Harara Rama templepillars DK.jpg

    Pillars at Hazara Rama temple

  • Statue of Yoga Narasimha

  • HazaraRamatemple Blackgranite DK.jpg

    Granite pillars at Rangamantapa

  • Harara Rama Bow DK.jpg

    Rama breaking Siva bow

  • Palace Watchtower at Hampi

  • Karnataka Hampi IMG 0844.jpg

See also

  • Vijayanagara
  • Vijayanagar Architecture
  • Krishna Deva Raya
  • Vidyaranya
  • Kanakagiri

Notes

  1. ↑ Group of Monuments at Hampi. World Heritage. Retrieved 2006-12-20.
  2. ↑ Virupaksha Research Project. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
  3. ↑ Shri Virupaksha Temple. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
  4. ↑ Virupaksha Temple. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
  5. ↑ Virupaksha Temple at Hampi. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
  6. ↑ Virupaksha Research Project. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
  7. ↑ Sri Virsupaksha Temple. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
  8. ↑ Virupaksha Temple. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
  9. ↑ Details of Virupaksha Temple. www.hampi.in. Retrieved 2007-03-08.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • T.S. Satyan, Hampi: The fabled capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, (Directorate of Archaeology and Museums), Govt. of Karnataka, 1995
  • J.M. Fritz et al, New Light on Hampi: Recent Research at Vijayanagara, (Performing Arts Mumbai, 2001) ISBN 81-85026-53-X
  • A.N. Longhurst, Hampi Ruins Described and Illustrated, (Laurier Books Ltd., 1998) ISBN 81-206-0159-9
  • The Ruins of Hampi:Travel Guide ISBN 81-7525-766-0

Articles and Travelers experiences


External links

World Heritage Sites in India

Agra Fort · Ajanta Caves · Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi · Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park · Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus · Churches and convents of Goa · Elephanta Caves · Ellora Caves · Fatehpur Sikri · Great Living Chola Temples · Group of Monuments at Hampi · Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram · Group of Monuments at Pattadakal · Humayun's Tomb · Kaziranga National Park · Keoladeo National Park · Khajuraho Group of Monuments · Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya · Manas Wildlife Sanctuary · Mountain railways of India · Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks · Qutub Minar and its Monuments · The Red Fort complex · Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka · Sun Temple at Konark Sundarbans National Park · Taj Mahal

Flag of India

Coordinates: 15°19′N 76°28′E

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