Virupaksha Temple & Akshardham Temple

 Virupaksha Temple

Built in the 7th century, the temple is famous for being a functioning temple ever since it came into the existence. Located in the village of Hampi, it is one of the most famous temples among the various other temples of Hampi. All heritage sites of Hampi have been recognized by the UNESCO.

A shrine of Shiva, Virupaksha temple is a very important religious as well as the tourist destination. The pilgrimage centre has expanded in scale over a period of time. Shiva in the form of Virupaksha is the consort of local goddess Pampa and that is why the temple is also called Pampapathi temple. Many festivals take place in the temple celebrating the engagement and wedding of the couple.

The Virupaksha Temple – Architecture :- Currently, the Virupaksha Temple consists of an open pillared hall and a pillared hall, three ante chambers and a sanctum. Some other structures surrounding this temple are entrance gateways, pillared cloisters, smaller shrines and a courtyard.

The gateway located at the east is nine tiered and is the largest among all the gateways at 50 meters. It incorporates earlier structures and is proportionately constructed. The stone base is two tiered and the superstructure is made of bricks. You can access the outer court containing many smaller temples from the eastern gateway.

You can pass through the smaller eastern gateway to the inner court and visit a plethora of small shrines located there. The temple has been so constructed that the river Tungabhadra flows along its terrace, descends to the temple kitchen and passes through the outer court

The central pillared hall is the most ornate structure and it is believed that this was added by the famous Vijayanagara emperor Krishnadevaraya. The hall was commissioned by the Emperor in 1510 A.D. Stone plaque inscriptions provide a detailed account of the contribution of the Emperor to the Virupaksha Temple.

The Virupaksha Temple – Festivals :- Devotees throng to this temple in December every year to attend the betrothal and marriage ceremonies of Pampa and Virupaksha. Another festival which is held in February is the annual chariot fete.

How to Get to the Virupaksha Temple :- The Virupaksha Temple is located in Hampi which is about 350 km from Bangalore. The nearest railway station from Hampi is Hospet and this lies at a distance of 13 km from Hampi. The nearest airport is at Bellary and this is located 60 km away from Hampi. Hampi is well connected by roads and railways and hence is easily accessible.

 Akshardham Temple

Constructed on the principles of Vastu Shastra and Pancharatra Shastra, this temple is situated near the banks of Yamuna in Delhi. The Indian-ness of the temple is reflected in its resemblance with ancient Indian architecture and the spirituality that the place exudes. The principal deity of Swaminarayan faith, Lord Swaminarayan, is the central figure of Akshardham. His 11 feet high idol lies below the central dome of the temple.

The structure has been built of Rajasthani pink stone and Italian Carrara marble. The magnificent temple of Akshardham looks more stunning during the night with the beautifully set lighting arrangements. There are many ways like exhibition, movie, statues and boat ride through which the information about the history and philosophy of the Swaminarayan sect and its founder is given to the visitors. Light and music show, which takes place in the evening, is the most fascinating element of the temple.

SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE :-  

Each element of Akshardham echoes with spirituality – the Mandir, the Exhibitions and even the Gardens. 

The Akshardham mandir has over two hundred murtis, representing many of the spiritual stalwarts over many millennia. The spiritual premise of Akshardham is that each soul is potentially divine. Whether we are serving the family, the country our neighbors or all living beings the world over , each service can help one move towards divinity. Each prayer is a call towards improving oneself and moving closer to God.

A visit to Akshardham is a spiritually enriching experience. Whether it is in realising the power of prayer, in feeling the strength of non-violence, in being aware of the universal nature of Hinduism’s ancient principles, or just in admiring the beauty of God’s abode on Earth –- each element has a spiritual significance.