Sacred centre

The essentials

The sacred centre lay in the rocky northern end of the city on the banks of the Tungabhadra. According to local tradition, these hills sheltered the monkey kingdom of Vali and Sugriva described in the Ramayana. Another tradition says that Pampadevi performed penance here to marry Virupaksha, a form of Shiva and the guardian deity of the kingdom.

The Vijayanagara kings claimed to rule on behalf of god Virupaksha. Royal orders were signed "Shri Virupaksha", usually in Kannada script. Rulers also used the title Hindu Suratrana (Hindu Sultan).

Key points

• Virupaksha temple: built over centuries; the hall in front of the main shrine was built by Krishnadeva Raya to mark his accession, and he is also credited with the eastern gopuram.
• Gopurams (royal gateways) towered over the central shrines and signalled the presence of the temple from a distance. They were also a sign of royal power and resources.
• Mandapas (pavilions) and long pillared corridors around shrines were added; mandapas were used for music, dance and the marriage of deities.
• Vitthala temple: Vitthala was a form of Vishnu generally worshipped in Maharashtra; his worship at Vijayanagara shows how rulers drew on diverse traditions. The temple has many halls and a unique shrine designed as a stone chariot.
• Temples had chariot streets, paved with stone slabs and lined with pillared pavilions where merchants set up shops.
• Nayakas continued the tradition of building temples, as at Madurai and Chandragiri.

Common mistakes

• Virupaksha is a form of Shiva, while Vitthala is a form of Vishnu.