Architecture in Vijayanagara

The emperors of Vijayanagara reigned as envoys of Lord Virupaksha, utilizing their vast wealth and resources to uphold and preserve the ancient temples in their entirety. Additionally, they embarked on ambitious projects to construct numerous new temples, providing architects with the freedom to experiment with diverse designs and concepts.

This zeal for temple construction, coupled with the expansion of existing temple structures, served as a catalyst for the Empire's finest sculptors, artists, and architects, who channeled their creative fervor into creating monuments of unparalleled grandeur. Consequently, a unique architectural style emerged, later recognized as the hallmark Vijayanagara Temple architectural style.

Art of the Vijayanagara Empire

• The Vijayanagara expressed itself not through portrait style painting, but through mural and fresco paintings adorning the interiors of structures such as palaces and revered temples. 
• These paintings predominantly featured motifs from Hindu cosmology, including gods and goddesses, alongside depictions of individuals engaging in cultural practices such as dancing and playing musical instruments.
• Characteristic of Vijayanagara style paintings were their meticulous attention to detail, graceful lines, and restrained use of vibrant colors. 
• Figures in these paintings often exhibited a slight backward tilt from the waist to the feet, with the torso facing forward and the head depicted in profile, embellished with elaborate clothing, intricate hairstyles, and jewelry accents.
• These paintings adorned walls, ceilings, and manuscripts, often set against a flat background in shades of ochre or red. 
• However, the longevity of Vijayanagara painting has been challenged by the fragility of manuscripts, which degrade over time.
• Despite this, remnants of the exceptional painters of the Vijayanagara Empire can still be observed in select temples such as the Virabhadra Temple in Lepakshi. 
• Additionally, fragments of texts adorned with paintings on materials like cotton can be found in some museums.

Vijayanagara Style of Architecture

• Throughout its dominion, the Vijayanagara Empire erected a multitude of temples, predominantly utilizing granite as the primary building material and soapstone for embellishments such as reliefs and sculptures.
• Drawing inspiration from architectural styles of predecessors like the Hoysala, Chola, and Chalukya empires, the Vijayanagara Empire amalgamated these influences to craft its distinctive architectural vocabulary. 
• Embracing the Dravidian architectural tradition, the Vijayanagara style emerged, characterized by its unique additions and adaptations.
• Local firm granite was favored for its durability, echoing the architectural preferences of earlier dynasties like the Badami Chalukyas. 
• Vijayanagara temples were encircled by robust fences and featured ornate pillared Kalyana mandapas (marriage halls), towering rayagopurams (elaborately carved monumental towers at the temple entrances), and imposing life-sized statues of deities.
• Under the reign of Krishnadeva Raya, the Dravida style experienced a surge in popularity, leading to the construction of numerous South Indian temples in this fashion over the subsequent two centuries.
• In the realm of courtly architecture, Vijayanagara employed mortar alongside other materials, resulting in structures characterized by a blend of secular design elements and Islamic-inspired features such as arches, domes, and vaults, often constructed using mortar and stone shards.

Distinctive elements of Vijayanagara architecture

• Throughout the expanse of the Vijayanagara Empire, temples honoring various monarchs were constructed, featuring grand entrances embellished with colossal gates known as Raya Gopurams. 
• These gates were adorned with intricate carvings that adorned their surfaces, adding to their magnificence.
• Carved pillars depicting horses were a prevalent motif in open pavilions, where platforms supported monolithic statues, such as those of Ganesh.
• Elaborately pillared Kalyana mandapas, or marriage halls, were also common features within these temples.
• The sanctum sanctorum, or garbhagriha, housed the image of the deity to whom the temple was dedicated, situated at the heart of the structure, representing the most sacred space within the temple precincts.
• Amman Shrines, dedicated to the deity's consort or wives, were also integral components of these temple complexes.

Architectural Wonders of Vijayanagara

Queen’s Bath:

• The "Queen’s Bath" stands as a substantial square structure primarily used for bathing, featuring a modest exterior and a grand, open-air interior. 
• Adorned with multi-lobed arch doorways, plaster-decorated domes, and vaults, it also boasts corridors with projecting balconies encircling an interior pool.
•  This historical site, possibly once utilized by royal members for personal bathing or as a serene relaxation area, continues to intrigue visitors today.

Lotus Mahal:

• The "Lotus Mahal," a two-story pavilion blending elements of Islamicate and temple architecture, likely served as a venue for events or meetings among the emperor and his advisors. 
• Its entrances are characterized by multi-lobed, recessed arches, while plastered ornamentation adorns the vaults and domes. 
• The pavilion is crowned with a stepped, pyramidal roof featuring finials reminiscent of temples. 
• This architectural marvel reflects a fusion of Indic temple style with Islamic influences, showcasing a vibrant exchange between Turko-Persian and Indic cultures within the cosmopolitan realm beyond Vijayanagara's borders.

Elephant Stables:

• Among the courtly buildings, the elephant stables stand out as the most impressive, housing ceremonial elephants utilized by the royalty. 
• While capable of accommodating only a fraction of the Vijayanagara army's elephants, the stables feature an open area in front that may have served as a parade ground. 
• This grand structure provides a glimpse into the majestic history of the empire and its regal connections.

Royal Platform:

• At the heart of the royal center stands a grand platform, an architectural marvel comprising multiple stories crafted from stone. 
• Adorning its perimeter are horizontal bands of low-relief friezes, depicting various scenes from courtly life, including the procession of war animals, hunting expeditions, soldiers in combat, traditional dances performed by ladies with sticks, and musicians entertaining the court.

Water Tanks:

• Adjacent to the Mahanavami Dibba, a substantial water tank known as pushpakarni occupies a square formation, encircled by a series of steps descending in a semi-pyramidal arrangement of black schist stone. 
• Designed for ease of access, this reservoir served as a venue for ritual bathing and purification before prayers, or for the immersion of metal deity incarnations during religious ceremonies. 
• Fed by an aqueduct system from the nearby Tungabhadra River, it played a vital role in the spiritual life of the royal court.

Virupaksha Temple:

• The Virupaksha Temple, the oldest Hindu shrine within the imperial complex still in active use for worship, venerates Virupaksha, a manifestation of the Hindu deity Shiva. Pilgrims traditionally enter the temple complex from the east, guided by its towering 160-foot entrance tower (gopura), as the temple faces the rising sun. 
• Annual ceremonies commemorate the divine marriage of Virupaksha and his consort, the regional goddess Pampa, from whom the settlement of Hampi derives its name.

Vittala Temple:

• Dedicated to a form of Vishnu, the Vittala Temple stands as the grandest structure in the capital's sacred core. 
• Dating back to the fourteenth century, the temple complex encompasses the primary shrine and numerous auxiliary shrines within a rectangular courtyard. 
• A significant feature is the open, multi-pillared "marriage hall" (Kalyana mandapa), where symbolic weddings of the deity to his consort take place amidst elaborately carved granite columns adorned with riders on rearing yalis (mythical beasts) and intricate brackets. 
• Notably, a stone chariot or Garuda shrine, resembling a wooden chariot used in religious festivals, adds a unique charm to the temple complex.

Monolithic Sculptures:

• Scattered throughout the landscape around the city are large monolithic sculptures, utilizing the vast stones of the region. 
• Notably, Emperor Krishnadevaya contributed a magnificent sculpture of Narasimha, the man-lion incarnation of Vishnu, depicted reclining in a yoga posture beneath a seven-hooded serpent, representing Adisesha, upon which Vishnu is said to rest.

Vijayanagara stands as a monumental milestone in southern Indian history, being the foremost kingdom to unify the three primary linguistic and cultural regions of the area—Kannada, Telugu, and Tamil. It emerged as the paramount and most influential empire in pre-colonial south Indian history.

The remnants of its once magnificent capital today serve as a poignant testament to the empire's grandeur, showcasing the city's pivotal role as the seat of power and its embrace of Islamic-inspired forms and practices, which significantly influenced Indic courtly life during the Vijayanagara era. Moreover, the capital's significance as a bustling population center and a vital hub of trade routes further underscore its historical importance.

In recognition of the profound legacy of Vijayanagara, UNESCO bestowed World Heritage Site status upon the remains at Hampi in Karnataka in 1986, acknowledging its cultural and historical significance on a global scale.