Hemakuta Hill and Hemakuta Group of Temples in Hampi Ruins, Hampi, Karnataka.

.... a Continuation post to Lakshmi Narasimhar Temple - Hampi Ruins, A Heritage Visit 

                                                                                  19^th June 2017

We planned to visit this place little earlier before breakfast on the second day ie.  17^th June 2017. It will be difficult to see these temples under the scorching sun after 9.00 hrs, since these are constructed on the rocky hill, which has no shade. These temples can be reached either from Krishna Temple or from Virupaksha temple. These temples predominantly having Pre-Vijayanagara character with enclosure of cyclopean wall with an entrance at north and east. The hill have about 30 temples with varying sizes and shapes are built between 09^th to 16^th century AD. These temples have single ( eka-kuta), two (dvi-kuta) and three ( tri-kutas) sanctums of pre-Vijayanagara architecture.

At the top of the hill there is a small Vijayanagara period temple has been identified as Mula Virupaksha Temple. It is believed that Lord Shiva meditated in this Sanctum Sanctorum and latter moved to the present Virupaksha temple.

 The original Sri Virupaksha Temple 

Similar to the above tri-kuta Jain temple is there on the left side of the Shiva Temple the sanctums are empty now. There is a peculiar kalasam is on the top of a vimanam of the one sanctum made of stone. Another tri-kuta temple on the eastern side has the inscription of Vira Kampiladeva, son of Mummadi Sineya Nayaka, The Kampili chief, built the Shivalaya and installed three Shiva Lingas. These temples has the three sanctums and a common artha mandapam and a front pravesha mandapa. The arthamandapa was built with cubical pillars and has the large corbels. In addition to this there are many single and two floor mandapas and a sunset view point.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE 

Kadale Kalu Ganesha. few meters away from Vishnu pada shrine there is a sanctum sanctorum for monolithic Ganesha called Kadale Kalu ( Gram seed in kannada language ) Ganesha. This 4.5 meters high Ganesha was chiseled out of a huge boulder. The front elegant pillared mandapam has the early Vijayanagara style. The reliefs of daily life of a common man, Various deities, etc. Also the pillars has the pushpa podhigai corbels.  The temple is dated back to 16^th century AD.

For more photographs :CLICK HERE  

.... to be continued ( Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple ) 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA--- 

Lakshmi Narasimha Temple and Badavi Linga / A Large Shiva Linga in Hampi ruins, Hampi, Karnataka.

…. A continuation Post to Vitthala Temple - Hampi Ruins, A Heritage Visit  

 19^th June 2017

It was around 17.30 hrs when we finished our of  Vittala Temple. Against 12 places planned, we could see only the two places. On the way we planned to visit Narasimha Temple and Badavilinga, since both are close to each other and nearer to our lodge also.

This is a huge monolithic sculpture near Krishna temple. This is one of the outstanding sculpture on the monolithic stone of Vijayanagara. The 6.7 meters sculpture was chiselled out of a massive boulder by Krishna Bhatta in 1528 AD during Krishnadevarayar’s rule. Lakshmi Narasimha was seated on the coil of  7 headed Adhiseshan with Lakshmi on his left  lap with makara thorana which is supported by two ornate pillars. Narasimha is sitting in padmasana with yogapatti.  Lakshmi’s right hand is on the hip of Narasimha in embracing posture. When Bhamini sultans  conquered Vijayanagara kings and they looted valuables and destroyed many temples. This temple is also one of them. Lakshmi and Narasimhar’s legs were completely broken. The legs with yogapatti are reconstructed in the recent years. Now Lakshmi Narasimhar is sitting on open to sky with 7 feet high wall.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Lakshmi’s right hand embracing Narasimha can be seen 

BADAVI LINGA

This temple adjacent to Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar’s sannidhi.   The Shiva linga is about 3 meters high and avudayar is  about 2 meter diameter. The lower part of the shiva linga is always in the water. It was told that the water is sourced through a small canal from Tungabhadra. The super structure is in dilapidated condition.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

……. To be Continued Hemakuta Hills & Hill Temples - Hampi Ruins, A Heritage visit  

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA--- 

Vittala Temple, Hampi ruins, Hampi, Karnataka.

 ... a continuation post to Sri Virupaksha temple, Hampi ruins.  

 19^th June 2017

The Vitthala temple, Lakshmi Narasimha and Badavi linga temples are covered after the lunch. This Vitthala temple is on the way to Kampali from Hampi, about 1.5 KM off the main road. Battery operated vehicles are there for commuting  from the main road on chargeable. Some of us preferred walking.

Moolavar : Sri Vitthala

This is one of the master piece of the Vijayanagara architecture with a massive enclosure with a 5 tier Rajagopuram which is ruined now facing east. There two other rajagopurams on south and north. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu  in the form of Vitthala. From the inscription Vitthala is known as Vittaleshwar. The sanctum existed since Devaraya II ( 1422- 46 CE ). Latter expanded by the Vijayanagara Kings, especially  Krishna Devaraya (1509 -1529 CE ) had contributed a lot.

Garudalwar sannadhi / stone chariot ins in front of the maha mandapam and Deepa sthambam in front of east side Rajagopuram had fallen down now. In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Thayar, Kalyana mandapam, 100 pillar mandapam and Utsava mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antarala, Artha mandapam and maha mandapam.

Garudan sannadhi- A chariot style with reliefs 

The maha mandapam has symmetrically recessed on sides and stands on a ornate adhistanam with sculptured friezes of horses, soldiers, elephants and swans. The adhistanam has also miniature vimanas with incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Interestingly we found a Jain Tirthankar in one of the Vimana. The prominent feature of the maha mandapa is with continuous frieze of bas reliefs of deities and other images. Fragments of original decorative parapet made of brick bonded with lime mortar  with niches and images in kutas can be seen.

The mandapa has 56 pillars  of about 3.6 meters high, of which 40 are forms the 3 sides and 16 pillars forms the  centre court. Each pillar has the massive composite  sculptures. The pillars has the reliefs of Deities, animals, Squatting lions, women dancers, drummers, clowns etc. The entrance pillars are of Yali type. The centre court yard is open to sky now and visitors are not allowed to climb the maha mandapam.  

The kalyana mandapam is on the south east side of the temple complex, constructed  similar to Maha mandapam. The utsava mandapa is on the northeast  side of the outer prakaram  built by Krishnadevaraya.

 Kalyana mandapam

The Thayar sannidhi was built like a separate temple  with sanctum, antarala,  ardha mandapa, and a maha mandapa with a sub sannadhi facing north. The roof and vimana was damaged completely.

The Garudan  sannidhi is constructed like a chariot with meticulous decorations with four wheels. The stone chariot is the prototype model of a wooden ratha. The super structure made of brick with stucco images are missing now.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

A Shiva’s dance posture stucco image on  a Vishnu temple Rajagopuram

ceiling panel..

ceiling panel..

Garudan sannadhi- A chariot style with reliefs 

Garudan sannadhi- A chariot style with reliefs 

Garudan sannidhi- A chariot style with reliefs

Adhistanam reliefs, elephants, horse, Horse traders etc,.

Adhistanam reliefs, elephants, horse, Horse traders etc,.

Adhistanam reliefs, elephants, horse, Horse traders etc,.

Adhistanam reliefs, elephants, horse, Horse traders etc,.

Adhistanam reliefs, elephants, horse, Horse traders etc,. 

Adhistanam reliefs, elephants, horse, Horse traders etc,.

Adhistanam reliefs, elephants, horse, Horse traders etc,.

Adhistanam reliefs, elephants, horse, Horse traders etc,.

Adhistanam reliefs, elephants, horse, Horse traders etc,.

Adhistanam reliefs, elephants, horse, Horse traders etc,.

Is this  Jain tirthankara ?  with mahara thoranam in a niche of the maha mandapa adhistanam- 

Vitthala Bazar a huge bazaar with a sacred Lokapavani tank is constructed  in front of the Vitthala temple measures 946 meters in length and 396 meters width. Remnants of the dilapidated mandapa in either side of the pathway remain as mute testimony to the ancient market existed during its golden days.

Kudure gombe ( toy horse ) mandapam. On the left side of the path way a shrine with sanctum, Antarala and a open artha mandapam called Kudure Gombe. The pillars has the sculptures of horse riders in standing position. The mandapam was used during processions and urchavams.

Gejjala ( Parankusha) mandapam. This is a 16^th century CE Mandapa on the way to Vitthala temple near the starting point of the main road. This mandapa is used to alight the deities during processions.

.... to be continued ( Lakshmi Narasimhar Temple )

---Om SHIVAYA NAMA---