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Prasanna Virupaksha or Underground

Shiva Temple, Hampi
By madur 9 years ago Categories: Hampi
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 Prasanna Virupaksha temple is one of oldest temples in Hampi.
Built during the reign of the Vijayanagara Empire, the temple is
located near the main road to Hampi bus stand and close to the
Noblemen’s quarters after Chandikesvara temple.

It is one of the popular temples that are visited by tourists on the

Hampi trail.

Quick Facts
Timing: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM on all days of the week
Entry Fee: No entry fee required
Photography: Allowed
Visit Duration: About 45 minutes to 1 hour
Best time to visit: From November to February
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 Underground Shiva Temple, Hampi. Photographer
Ssenthilkumaran

History of Prasanna Virupaksha

Temple, Hampi
The Prasanna Virupaksha temple dates back to the 14th century
AD. The temple is dedicated to Prasanna Virupaksha, an avatar
of Lord Shiva. The temple stands amidst a beautiful lawn
covered in green.

The temple has remained buried for over four hundred years
before it was discovered in the 1980’s decade. It is believed that
Vijayanagara ruler Krishnadevaraya had donated extensively to
this temple.
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 The location of the temple and its proximity to the Noblemen’s
quarters indicates that the temple might have been used by the
members of the Royal family of Vijayanagara for their private
ceremonies.

Why is Prasanna Virupaksha Temple

known as the Underground Shiva
Temple?
An interesting fact about the Prasanna Virupaksha temple is that
it is located a few metres below the ground level. The roof of the
temple is at par with the present ground level while the main
structure of the temple stands on a low lying area. The reason
behind such a unique location for the construction of the temple
is not known.

Another thing to note is that the sanctum of the temple remains

submerged under stagnant water throughout the year. During
the monsoon season, extending from June to August, the water
level rises inside the temple and submerges the floor of the
maha mantapa and other mantapas.

This restricts the entry of visitors to most parts of the temple

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 during the rainy season. The water inside the temple is
considered to be sacred by the people of Hampi and the
devotees of Lord Shiva.

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Reason behind the water inside the

Prasanna Virupaksha Temple, Hampi
While it is a known fact that most portions of the Prasanna
Virupaksha temple remains submerged under water for most
part of the year, the accurate reason behind it fact is not known.

There are different stories floating in the local circles regarding

this uniqueness of the temple. One of the popular stories is that
the temple has an inlet and outlet for the water. The water that
flows inside the temple comes from the Tungabhadra River.

When the dam water of the river is released during the

monsoons, the water level rises inside the temple and floods it.

Architecture of the Prasanna

Virupaksha Temple, Hampi
The Prasanna Virupaksha temple has been constructed
following the Vijayanagara style of architecture. The temple is a
simple and beautiful structure that is located inside a large
courtyard surrounded by an enclosure wall. There is a water
canal in the courtyard of the temple.

This Underground Shiva temple has a flat roofed main tower.

There are steps leading from the main tower to the main pillared
hall of the temple.

The temple has a garbhagriha along with an antarala. The

temple also has an aradha mantapa and a maha mantapa.
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 The maha mantapa has pillared corridors that combine with the
pillared mukha mantapa. This makes for a huge pillared frontal
mantapa. The frontal mantapa also has a dhwaja stambha that
protrudes through the rooftop.

The pillars of the temple are simple and austere in appearance,

unlike the carved and engraved pillars found in most temples of
Hampi.

Present Condition of the Prasanna

Virupaksha Temple, Hampi
The Prasanna Virupaksha temple is in a dilapidated condition
and is no better than most other temples in Hampi. It can be
easily seen that the temple lacks maintenance. The inner
sanctum of the temple once had an idol of Lord Shiva, but today
there remains just an empty pedestal.

Some parts of the temple are accessible during the summer

season. But the inner sanctum remains flooded throughout the
year. During monsoon most parts of the temple become
inaccessible due to the rise in the water level.

The stone pillars are plain and devoid of any ornamental

carvings. But it is a thrill to wade through knee deep water and
reach the inner sanctum.

The inner sanctum is a dark area where nothing can be seen

clearly. Bats have made the inner sanctum their residence and
they can be seen flying inside the temple.

How to reach Prasanna Virupaksha

Temple, Hampi
Hampi is a famous tourist destination that attracts lot of visitors
from far and near. There are a number of ways to reach Hampi
from various parts of Karnataka and beyond. It is an easy matter
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 to reach the Underground Shiva Temple from most parts of
Hampi.

By Air

Hampi, the ruined village, does not have an airport. Ballari

(Bellary) is the closest town that has an airport. Ballary is
located at a distance of around 64 km from Hampi.

Visitors can fly to the airport at Ballari and then proceed to travel
to Hampi. There are several means of local transport to reach
Hampi from Ballari.

By Rail

Hampi does not have a railway station of its own. The nearest
railway station is situated in the city of Hosapete (Hospet) and it
is called the Hospet Junction Railway Station. Hosapete stands
at a distance of around 10 km from Hampi.

One of the easiest ways to reach Hampi from Hosapete is to

take a bus. Some other means of local transport are also there
to reach Hampi from Hosapete and visitors can avail them.

By Road

Since Hampi has a good road network, it is well-connected to

many towns and cities with the help of this network. There are
several KSRTC buses that travel between Hampi and other
towns and cities of Karnataka.

Visitors have the option to reach Hampi either by taking a bus or

by hiring private cars, cabs or other vehicles from the major
cities like Bengaluru (Bangalore) or Mysuru (Mysore).

Also See:

Top 15 Tourist Sites in Hampi

Temples in Hampi
Temples in Karnataka
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 About Hampi
How to Obtain India Tourist Visa on Arrival or e-Visa

« Ganagitti Temple, Hampi – Beauty Chandikesvara Temple, Hampi –

in Simplicity Beauty Etched on Stone »

Tags: hampi shiva temple, Hampi sightseeing, hampi temple, shiva temple,
temples

madur:

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