The Magnificent Art & Sculpture Of Virupaksha Temple In Hampi

virupaksha_temple_madras_courier
Representational Image: Public Domain.
The paintings in the Virupaksha temple tell some intriguing tales & raise interesting questions.

The Virupaksha temple in Hampi started as a group of separate shrines in the seventh century. They were dedicated to Lord Shiva and goddesses (perhaps related to Lord Shiva). Over the centuries, the shrines expanded into a temple with a vast complex and many hall posts and flag posts, and other things. It is now a nine-storeyed tower.

The Virupaksha temple received its magnificent look during the Vijayanagara reign. The main shrine – the nine-storeyed tower – was built in 1442. 

virupaksha_temple_madras_courier
Representational Image: Public Domain.

The paintings and architecture of the tower tell the stories of Virupaksha, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. In the temple, the ceiling paintings are the most interesting. Instead of depicting the god that sits in the temple, it depicts what looks like soldiers.

The ceiling painting gives the impression that the men are wearing similar uniforms. One of the paintings shows two groups of soldiers facing each other. They look like they are holding a bayonet or a weapon used to stab another person. 



To continue reading, please subscribe to the Madras Courier.

Subscribe Now

Or Login


 

-30-

Copyright©Madras Courier, All Rights Reserved. You may share using our article tools. Please don't cut articles from madrascourier.com and redistribute by email, post to the web, mobile phone or social media.
Please send in your feed back and comments to editor@madrascourier.com

0 replies on “The Magnificent Art & Sculpture Of Virupaksha Temple In Hampi”