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ವಿರೂಪಾಕ್ಷ ದೇವಾಲಯ
Hampi, Karnataka · 15.3350°, 76.4583°
The living heart of ruined Vijayanagara — the one temple of Hampi's imperial landscape where worship never ceased, even after the city's destruction in 1565. Its 50 m gopuram towers over the Tungabhadra; a dark chamber behind the sanctum casts a pinhole-camera inverted shadow of the tower.
What follows is the temple’s own traditional account, transmitted through liturgy and local memory. It is recorded here as tradition, not as attested history.
Here the river goddess Pampa (a form of Parvati) won Shiva through penance; their marriage is celebrated annually, and the site's older name — Pampa-kshetra — survives in 'Hampi' itself. The Kishkindha of the Ramayana, kingdom of the vanaras, is identified with these boulder hills.
Hosapete rail ~13 km; Hubballi/Vidyanagar airports.
coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-26 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Vijayanagara
Answers only from cited records
Opening the line…