Hindu temple
Virupaksha Temple, Hampi
Also known as Pampapathi Temple.
In short
The Virupaksha Temple at Hampi, Karnataka, is dedicated to Shiva as Virupaksha, consort of the local goddess Pampa. The oldest and principal shrine of the UNESCO-listed ruins of Vijayanagara, it has been in continuous worship for centuries beneath its towering gopuram.
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Key facts
- Presiding deity
- Shiva
- Significance
- A UNESCO World Heritage Shiva temple, the spiritual centre of Hampi
- Location
- Hampi, Karnataka
Significance
Shiva is worshipped here as Virupaksha, lord of the goddess Pampa — after whom Hampi is named — beside the Tungabhadra river, amid the great gopuram and pillared halls of Vijayanagara art.
It is the one temple at Hampi that never fell out of worship after the empire's fall, remaining a living shrine amid the famous ruins.
History
Worship at the site dates back centuries; the temple was greatly expanded under the Vijayanagara empire (14th–16th centuries) and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Group of Monuments at Hampi.
How to reach
At Hampi in Vijayanagara district, Karnataka; the nearest hub is Hosapete (Hospet), with Hubli the nearest airport.
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About Virupaksha Temple, Hampi
Which deity is worshipped at Virupaksha Temple?
Shiva, worshipped as Virupaksha, consort of the local goddess Pampa, at Hampi.
Where is the Virupaksha Temple?
At Hampi in Karnataka, the principal living shrine among the UNESCO-listed ruins of Vijayanagara.
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