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Rampant lion Yalis on elephants.The front porch hall attached to the temple
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This east facing temple is especially notable for its pillared front hall. Though the name suggests of lord Siva the temple was actually a Vishnava one.
The temple is made in a small campus form, albeit a small campus. Like mentioned above, the first thing you notice is the rampant lion Yalis trample elephants under its rear feet- a very typical of Vijayanagara architecture. These rows of pillars decorated the font open hall acting like the porch to the temple campus. Also these pillars are decorated with other godly themes. A central passageway in the middle of the hall gives access to the centre of the compound.
Inside the compound you would find two shrines, the large main shrine in the centre and a sub shrine at the northwest. The main shrine is decorated with a hall in front of the sanctum. Currently the sacrum chamber is devoid of any idols, but it’s believed that a Vaishniva idol was installed here. The sub shrine contained that of the goddess.
The main hall is decorated with many pillars; most of them are richly carved with Vaishnava themes. For example the image of Garuda (the eagle), Kamadenu (the godly cow), Hanuman etc. Lotus bud tipped capitals connect these pillars with the giant granite beams supporting the roof.
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Stucco image of crawling Krishna
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Come out of this main hall into the compound to see the outside decorations of the shrine. The main shrine tower is made of brick & mortar. All around the shrine top you can see the partly damaged stucco images. Most noteworthy is that of the crawling Krishna at the north side. The top of the shrine tower ends in a domical pinnacle.
All around the inner wall of the compound one can spot the remains of a pillared cloister.
Outside the temple compound’s southwest lies the remains of the ‘700 pillared’ hall. It’s believed that this giant hall once served as a sanctuary for the pilgrims to Hampi.
It is very difficult miss the Chandikesvara temple as its porch flanged with the Yali pillared hall protrudes into the main road to Hampi. Between the Chandikesvara Temple and the Uddana Veerabhadra Temple, the main road makes a zigzag bend before proceeding further. Though it is one of the most easily accessible sites in Hampi, tourists just fly past this temple. The temple is not under worship. Admission free &
photography allowed free of cost.
