Vittala Temple in Karnataka

Vittala Temple in Karnataka

 One of the most famous attractions of Karnataka state is Vittala Temple in Hampi that enshrines Lord Vishnu. This Vittala Temple has an extravagant architecture on its walls to see. The temple is located on the southern bank of the river Tungabhadra which was built in the 15th century AD.

Inside the Vittala Temple there are projections of ten avataras of Vishnu. The base of the temple is chiseled with friezes of the swan, the horse and the warrior. Lord Vishnu in this temple is worshipped as deity Vittala, as a cult deity by the cattle herds in the state of Karntaka.

The Vittala Temple has special attraction of stone chariot with stone wheels shaped in the form of a lotus and can be revolved.  The Vittala Temple has Lord Vishnu enshrined as main deity facing to the east. The sanctum of the god comprises the open ‘maha mandapa’, a closed ‘ardha-mandapa’ with side-porches and a covered ‘pradakshina-prakara’ enclosing the ‘antarala’ and ‘garbha griha’. And there are many small halls, temples and pavilions located inside the temple of Vittala.

Vittala Temple is sculptured has Vijayanagar Art. The outer pillars are known as the ‘Musical Pillars’ as they echo when banged.

History of Vittal Temple:

This temple is a very ancient temple in Hampi that was built in 15th century AD at the time of Devaraya II. This temple portrays the perfection of the Vijayanagara style of architecture. It is opined that  the Vittala Temple was neither finished nor consecrated, epigraphic and literary evidences show that it remained in worship at least till the time of the battle of ‘Rakshasi tangdi’.