The presentation mainly focuses on the architectural aspect of the Vijayanagar Empire with a brief description of the empire. The presentation is in bullet points which are easier to understand and study.

1. VIJAYANAGAR EMPIRE
Presentation by -
Srishti Arya
Art and Architecture

2. Introduction to the Empire
● Empire was based in the deccan
plateau region, South India.
● Established by Harihara I and his
brother Bukka Raya I (1336).
● Located on the banks of the
Tungabhadra River.
● Spread over a large area including the
modern era Group of Monuments at
Hampi site.
● Vijayanagar ruins called Hampi - a
UNESCO world heritage site.
● Lasted until 1646; power declined
after a major military defeat in
1565 by the combined armies of
the Delhi Sultanates
● The city of Vijayanagar was
founded around the religious
Hindu Complex Pampa Tirtha and
Kishkinda, already existed.

3. The presentation further focuses on the
distinctive physical layout and building style of
the sprawling city of the Vijayanagar. Its
location in itself was a striking feature as the
river Tungabhadra, flowing in a northeasterly
direction, formed a natural basin. Surrounding
landscape, characterised by stunning granite
hills, formed a girdle around the city. Number
of streams flowed down the river from these
rocky outcrops. Embankments were built along
these streams, creating reservoirs of varying
sizes.
The city’s size could not be seen from one spot.
One would have to climb the highest point but,
even then the entirety of it wasn’t visible
because it lay between several ranges of hills.

4. Architecture of Vijayanagar
To start with, we shall first
discuss the “Royal Centre” in
brief.
● Located in the south-
western part of the
settlement.
● Included over 60
temples.
● Patronage and cults
important to those
trying to establish &
legitimise their
authority by associating
with the divinities
housed in the shrine.
● Thirty building
complexes identified as
palaces.
● Relatively large in
structures; not associated
with ritual functions.
Superstructure of the secular
buildings made of
perishable materials.
● More distinctive
structures assigned names
based on the form of the
buildings and functions.

5. ● One of the highest points in the city.
● Massive square platform in three
layers.
● Rising from a base of about 11,000
sq. ft to a height of 40 ft.
● Base of the structure covered with
relief carvings.
● Mainly two stairways reaching the
top.
● Front one decorated on either sides
with carvings.
● Back of the platform has a twin
staircase.
● Sides fluted with designs of chains
of sculptures.
The Mahanavami Dibba
● Carvings of the panels at the sidewall of
the bottom portion are most celebrated.
● Rituals conducted coincided with
Mahanavami.
● Space surrounding the structure not
elaborate for processions of men,
women, animal.
● But, it remains an enigma.

6. ● Most beautiful buildings in the royal centre.
● Named by British travellers of the 19th
century.
● May have been a council chamber.
● Within the Zenana Enclosure.
● Also called Kamal Mahal or Chitrangani
Mahal.
● Balcony and passages covered with a dome
resembling open lotus bud.
● Central dome carved as a lotus bus.
● Curves given an Islamic touch.
● Multi-layered roof design is Indo- style.
● Two storeyed building; well structured
symmetrically.
● Surrounded by rectangular wall, four towers.
● 24 pillars supporting arched windows and balcony.
● Walls and pillars carved with patterns of sea
creatures and birds.
● Music concerts and other recreation activities were
also held.
Lotus Mahal

7. Hazara Rama Temple
● Most spectacular of the temples located in
the royal chamber.
● Literally means, ‘thousand Rama’.
● Multitude of relics depicting the reigning
deity.
● Story of Ramayana carved on walls.
● Outer walls decorated with bas-relics of
Rama and Krishna.
● Probably used by the king and his family.
● Relics portraying processions of horses,
elephants, soldiers, dancing women etc. - most
extensive relocs to be found in India.
● Lawn on the northern side.
● Two huge gateways, accessing the temple
compound.
● Ornately sculpted columns in the interior of the
temple.
● Empty pedestal signifies- idols of Rama,
Lakshmana, Sita.
● Smaller shrine inside the temple complex.

8. The Sacred Centres
Temple building in the region had a long
history, going back to dynasties such as the
Pallavas, Chalukyas, Hoysalas and Cholas.
Rulers very often encouraged temple building
as a means of associating themselves with the
divine - often, the deity was explicitly or
implicitly identified with the king. Temples
functioned as centres of learning. Rulers and
others often granted land and other resources
for the maintenance of temples. Consequently,
temples developed as significant religious,
social, cultural and economic centres. From
the point of view of rulers, constructing,
repairing and maintaining temples were
important means of winning support and
recognition for their power, wealth and piety.
General Characteristics of
Temples
● Surrounded by strong enclosure.
● Small shrines consisting of sanctum
and porch.
● Medium sized have antechamber,
antrala connecting the sanctum, outer
hall and an enclosed pillared hall.
● Large temples have Rayagopurams
built of wood, brick and stucco in
Chola style.
● Medium sized temples-
circumambulatory passage around
sanctum, and open large hall,
ceremonial hall and a temple tank.

9. It is likely that the very choice of the site of
Vijayanagara was inspired by the existence of
the shrines of Virupaksha and Pampa Devi. In
fact the VIjayanagara kings claimed to rule on
behalf of the god Virupaksha. All royal orders
were signed “Shri Virupaksha”, usually in the
Kannada script. Rulers indicated their close
links to the gods by using the title “Hindu
Suratrana”. This was a Sanskritization of the
Arabic term Sultan, meaning king, so it literally
meant Hindu Sultan.
● Temple pillars have engravings of charging horses or hippogryphs (Yali).
● Pillars without hippogryphs are rectangular with mythology themed decoration on all
sides.
● Some pillars have cluster of smaller pillars around a central pillar shaft.
● Bottom supports of these pillars have engravings of gods and goddesses.

10. VIRUPAKSHA
TEMPLE
● Located in Hampi
● Dedicated to Lord Shiva.
● Constructed in Lakkana Dandesha’s
assistance.
● Predominant centre of pilgrimage.
● Holiest and sacred retreat
● Has survived through years and never ceases
to prosper
● Still pristine amidst the ruins that surround it.
● Attracts large group of people in the month of
December.
● Yearly chariot festival conducted in the month
of February.

11. ● Virupaksha temple chronicle is
unremitting from around 7th century.
● Virupaksha-Pampa retreat was in
existence here.
● Several inscriptions of about Lord
Shiva engraved in the 9th century.
● Started off as a little shrine.
● Developed later on into a huge
complex.
● Additions made to the temple during
the Chalukya and Hoysala
sovereignty.
● Extensive renovations done in the
19th century.
● Addition of towers and ceiling
paintings.

12. ● Temple has the shrine or the holy place of
worship.
● Main temple consists of a sanctum, 3
antechambers, open pillared hall.
● Courtyards, pillared monastery, pillared
cloister, courtyards, small shrines other
structures surround the temple.
● Entranceways surrounding the temple- 9 tiered
eastern gateway, the greatest; 50 meters, well
proportionate incorporating earlier structures.
● Framework of brick and gravel base giving
way to the court outside.
● Court containing various sub sanctums.
● Inner eastern gopuram graced with three
storeys.
● Northern gopuram with five storeys.

13. ● Kanagiri Gopuram, north, takes towards a little
enclosure with supplementary sanctums.
● Krishana Deva Raya was the contributor to the
temple.
● Main pillared hall is Raya’s contribution.
● Stone slab beside the hall has inscriptions
explaining his offering to the temple.
● Surrounding the temple are plenty of dilapidated
mandapams.
● Ancient shopping centre was interlined with the
mandapams in front of the temple.
● Narrow channel of the Tungabhadra river flows
along the temples terrace, descending to the
temple kitchen and out through the outer court.
● Krishana Deva raya commissioned the hall in
1510 AD.

14. Gopurams and Mandapas
● New features were evident.
● Structures of immense scale, a mark
of imperial authority, exemplified by
raya gopurams.
● Royal gateways, dwarfed the towers
on ventral shrines, signalling the
presence of a temple from a great
distance.
● Meant as reminders of the power of
kings, able to command the
resources, techniques and skills
needed to construct these gateways.
● Mandapas or pavilions and long,
pillared corridors often ran around
shrines within the temple complex.

15. ● Gopurams - rectangular in form with
ground level wooden doors, richly
decorated providing access.
● Tapering gopuram divided into
many storeys.
● Diminishing in size as the gopuram
tower narrows.
● Four gopurams of Thillai Nataraja
Temple and Chidambaram Temple
are important examples from the
13th century.
● Mandapa- porch like structure
through gopurams, leading to the
temples.
● Used for religious dancing and
music.
● Part of basic temple compound.
● Large temple has many mandapas.
● More than one mandapa in a temple-
each one located for a different function
and has name attached to it.
● Kalyana Mandapa- mandapa dedicated
to divine marriage.
● Names given are- Ardh Mandapam
(intermediary space between temple
exterior and sanctum sanctorum),
Asthana Mandapam (assembly hall).

16. CONCLUSION
Buildings that survive tell us about the way spaces were organised and used, how
they were built, with what materials amd techniques. For example, we can assess
the defence requirements and military preparedness of a city by studying its
fortifications. Buildings also tell us about the spread of ideas and cultural influences
if we compare them with buildings in other places. They cinvey ideas which the
builders or thier patrons wished to project. They rae often suffused with sy,nbols
which are a product of thier cultural context. These we can understand when we
combine information from other sourceslike literature, inscriptions and other
popular traditons.