Virupaksha Temple

Introduction to Virupaksha Temple

The Virupaksha Temple is devoted to Lord Shiva where he is worshipped as Lord Mallikarjuna in the town of Pattadakal Karnataka. It is considered as one of the largest monuments in the town and is known for its excellent art and architecture. UNESCO in 1987 has included the town of Pattadakal in its list of World Heritage sites. It is one of those temples which are visited by a lot of people from various parts of the globe for its architectural grandeur.

Legend of Virupaksha Temple

Virupaksha Temple is one of the temples erected by Queen Lokmahadevi, who was the consort of Lokeshvara Mahasila Prasada. It was built to commemorate his victory over the Kings of Kanchi. The town of Pattadakal used to be the capital of the Chalukya dynasty. They built several temples in the seventh and eighth centuries. There are also several Jain monasteries built by the king. Almost four temples were built in the Dravidian style and four temples in the Nagara style of Northern India. The temple of Papanatha is in mixed style. King Krishnadevaraya has contributed a lot to build this temple.

Architecture of Virupaksha Temple

The stunning architecture in this temple is based on the Vesera style which dates back to 740 CE. The temple is very similar to Kailasanatha temple in Kanchipuram. It is even believed that this temple served as a model to build the beautiful temples of Kailasanatha and Ellora.

The temple also has an inscription featuring all the artisans who worked for this temple. The temple faces east, like many other temples of Pattadakal. The square-shaped sanctum sanctorum of Lord Shiva is installed with a Shiva Linga. There are two small shrines of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Mahishasuramardhini, killing the buffalo before the sanctum. There is a huge Nandi which faces the Lord. The entire temple is in the shape of a square and has smaller shrines.

There are many halls, which are supported by pillars with intricate carvings. The temple has a temple tank which is believed to have divine mystical powers. There are several inscriptions about Lord Shiva and about various kings who ruled the kingdom.

Festivals Related to Virupaksha Temple

Virupaksha Car festival is one of the important festivals. Many other festivals celebrated at this temple are Maha Shivaratri, Deepavali, Makar Sankranti, Navratri and Sri Rama Navami.

Benefits of Visiting Virupaksha Temple

The benevolence of Lord Shiva is unfathomable. He has always demonstrated his pure love for all sentient beings. One can witness the high cosmic energy and mystical power of Lord Shiva which can remove all challenges in the life of a devotee. He emancipates devotees from their worries and gives them a great life.