About
The Prasanna Virupaksha temple dates back to the 14th century AD. The temple is dedicated to Prasanna Virupaksha, an avatar of Lord Shiva. It is one of the oldest temples in Hampi and was built during the Vijayanagara period. The temple remained buried for over four hundred years before it was discovered in the 1980s. An inscription on a slab in a mantapa records a grant to the temple by Sri Krishnadevaraya in 1513, on the occasion of his coronation.
This temple dedicated to Lord Siva stands a few metres below the present ground level, which is why it is called the Underground Shiva Temple. The roof is level with the ground around it while the main structure stands in a low-lying area. The reason for building the temple at this depth is not known. The sanctum stays submerged in stagnant water through the year, and the water is regarded as sacred by Shiva devotees and people of Hampi.
Layout and architecture
The temple follows the Vijayanagara style and stands inside a large courtyard with an enclosure wall. It has a flat-roofed main tower (gopura), a garbhagriha with an antarala, an ardha mantapa and a maha mantapa. Steps lead from the tower to the main pillared hall. A lawn surrounds the temple, and its outer parts can be viewed by walking around it.
Its position close to the Noblemen’s Quarters suggests that members of the Vijayanagara royal family might have used it for private ceremonies; this is an inference, not a recorded fact.
Water in the temple
The exact reason for the water inside is not established. One local account says the temple has an inlet and an outlet and that water from the Tungabhadra River enters it, rising when dam water is released in the monsoon. In June to August the water rises and covers the floor of the maha mantapa and other mantapas, so most of the temple is inaccessible to visitors in the rainy season. In the drier months some parts can be reached, but the inner sanctum remains flooded.
Timings to visit
06:00 AM – 06:00 PM, all days of the week
Entry fee: none
Photography: allowed
Visiting Duration – about 45 minutes to 1 hour
Best time to visit: November – February
Source for these details: karnataka.com, Hampi.
How to Reach Prasanna Virupaksha Temple
The temple is near the main road to the Hampi bus station, close to the Noblemen’s Quarters and after the Chandikesvara temple. A byroad towards the Hazara Rama Temple passes through this area. Hospet is the nearest railway town for Hampi.
Address
Prasanna Virupaksha Temple, Hampi, Karnataka 583239, India.
Also Read Places to Visit in Karnataka
Prasanna Virupaksha Temple Map
