The Virupaksha Temple is also called the Pampapathi Temple, in Hampi, Bellary District, Karnataka. Its construction was completed by the Vijayanagar rules in the 14th century. The temple is dedicated to Lord Virupaksha. It is believed that a Nayaka (Chieftan) called Lakkan Dandesha constructed the temple under Deva Raya II’s rule. This ruler was known in the Vijayanagara Empire as Prauda Deva Raya.
One important pilgrimage centre in Hampi is the Virupaksha Temple. Over the centuries, it was considered one of the most sacred sanctuary. Vijayanagara Empire is located on banks of River Tungabhadra. Devotees continue to worship Virupaksha deity at the temple, even if the surroundings are in ruins.
Pampadevi is the local goddess of Hampi. It is believed that she is associated with the Tungabhadra River and is also the consort of Lord Virupaksha. In Andhra Pradesh state, there is a temple called the Virupakshini Amma temple dedicated to the Virupakshini mother goddess.
Virupaksha is a form of Shiva. The deity is Lord Shiva’s seventh name. He is also Ganesha’s name as the one having Fire, Moon and the Sun, as eyes making him a very observant and perceptive deity.
Virupaksha is a Sanskrit name meaning three eyed or diversely-eyed. The Ramayana, Kumar-Sambhav and Paraskar Grihya Sutra provide references of Virupaksha as having deformed eyes or being diversely-eyed. Virupaksha means Rudra in the Mahabharata, a divine being in the Manav Grihya Sutra. The name Virupaksha is known to have a strong mythological and religious reference.
