Description11th 12th century Virupaksha temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka India - 01.jpg
English: *The Virupaksha temple – also referred to as Virupaksheshvara temple, Virupaksheshwar temple or Virupaksesvara temple – is a Hindu temple of Shaivism tradition in the eastern side of Lakkundi, a small village-like town.
The temple is located close to National Highway 67. It is about 12 kilometers southeast of Gadag-Betageri twin city, between Hampi and Goa.
It is one of over 40 ruined temples in Lakkundi-Gadag area. Prior to the 14th-century, Lakkundi was a large, major historic city referred in pre-14th century texts and inscriptions as Lokkigundi – serving as a capital of the Hoysala dynasty. The city was destroyed in the Sultanate raids and wars that began in the 13th-century but rose from the ruins during the Vijayanagara Empire. The end of Vijayanagara Empire brought further social and political chaos to this region. Lakkundi was reduced to a galaxy of abandoned and mutilated ruins, spread over a cluster of small rural villages with a combined population of few thousand residents in the 19th-century.
The temple has a raised platform before entry, likely an open pillared mandapa prior to its ruin. Inside is a pillared hall, a vestibule, and a sanctum. The pillar carvings here are relatively simple compared to other temples in Lakkundi area.
A notable feature of this temple is the carving above the sanctum entrance. It shows Surya, Varuna and other Vedic deities with their vahanas, suggesting that this was originally a Hindu temple dedicated to Surya. After its ruin and abandonment, the temple was likely reused and appropriated by local Shaiva Hindu or Lingayat Hindu community. In the sanctum now is a Shiva linga. In front of the Shiva linga is a Nandi. Neither the Nandi nor the Shiva linga are original. The sanctum floor and walls are also additions of the modern era.
The temple had a sikhara, but was lost to history
The inscriptions found at and near this site suggest that this Virupaksha temple was in existence by the 12th-century.
Photographs created by P. Madhusudan, Telangaana, India uploaded by User:Ms Sarah Welch are released as CC-0.
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