Hazara Rama Temple, Hampi

This article is about the Hazara Rama Temple of Hampi; its location, architectural style, the carvings on the exteriors of temple wall and the temple from inside.

The statue of Lord Hanuman

We exit out of the royal quarters from its Western entrance and find ourselves in front of the Hazara Rama Temple, Hampi and notice a life size etching of Lord Hanuman on a boulder facing the temple. This statue of Lord Hanuman was brought from somewhere else at the entrance of the Hazara Rama Temple. The holes in the panel are cut for the devotees to put flowers.

The open area in front of the east entrance of the temple was once paan-supaari market. Its proximity to the royal complex shows that how important nut-betel leaves played in the life of the powerfuls. At the end of this market was the Deep-Stambh and the temple kalyani is just next to it.

Location, and the architectural style of the Hazara Rama Temple

The Hazara Rama Temple is the only temple situated in the core of the royal quarters between the residential and ceremonial enclosures. This well-preserved ornate temple occupies an area of around 33.5×61 m and is believed to be constructed by Devaraya I in 1442-46 and carries the elements of early phase of Vijayanagar architectural style.

Its early Vijayanagar era is visible in the absence of gopuras and the distinctive Vijayanagar architectural style of composite pillars. As compared to the Amman shrine in the same complex that was constructed later and which carry the late Vijayanagar architectural elements, this temple looks much plainer.

The sections in Hazara Rama Temple, Hampi

This temple is constructed in three distinct sections, the mahamandapa – an open pillared hall in front, an ardhamandapa – a similar closed hall in the middle, and the garbhagriha in the rear. There is also a goddess shrine and a kalyan mandapam all enclosed in a courtyard surrounded by a twenty-four feet high wall. The boundary wall of the temple is decorated with the panels depicting Mahanavmi celebrations – procession of elephants, horses, dancers, soldiers, warriors, musicians …

Who constructed Hazara Rama Temple and why?

Lord Rama is looked upon as an ideal king and “Ramrajya” is considered an epitome of good governance, so a temple dedicated to Lord Rama might have been constructed to always strive for this dream of an ideal governance.

There are inscriptions found in the temple that declare that the Devaraya-I had blessings of Goddess Pampa, the consort of Shiva. So this temple dedicated to Lord Rama, constructed by someone who was blessed by Goddess Pampa, signifies that during this period there was not much enmity between the Shaivites or Vaishnavites or may be the Rayas try to keep a fine balance between the two faiths, even though they themselves had an inclination towards Vaishnavism.

First impressions of the Hazara Rama Temple, Hampi

The brick parapet on the east side of the entrance has fine, though vandalized, sculpture of Gods and the royal patrons of the temple. As we enter in from an elegant pillared pavilion the first look of the temple mesmerizes us.

The outer wall of the temple has three-tiers of sculpted friezes in bold bas-reliefs narrating the story of Ramayana with each panel depicting one significant episode from the story.

An art exhibition based on Ramayana carved on the walls of Hazara Rama Temple

As we are moving around we get a feeling of visiting an art exhibition inspired by Ramayana, carved on the stone. There are hundred and eight panels and the story need to be read from left to right and from bottom to top.

The Ramayana carvings start with Sage Valmiki narrating Ramayana to a seated king. There are panels depicting Ahilya Udhhar, breaking of Parshuram’s bow, Ram going to Vanvas, Ram following golden deer (Marich), Ravana forcibly abducting Sita, Ram killing Vali, Hanuman meeting Sita giving her Ram’s ring and finally ending at Ram’s coronation at Ayodhya.

Why the temple is known as the Hazara Rama Temple?

The reasoning mind immediately concludes that these numerous depictions of Lord Rama is the reason for the temple being known as Hazara Rama Temple.

However, in my guidebook, Hampi, beautifully written by D Devakunjari, an alternate reason for the name is suggested. According to it the word Hazara Rama temple might be an aberration of Telugu word Hazaramu meaning an audience or entrance hall of a palace; a name owing to the temple’s unique location.

Something unique about the Hazara Rama Temple

The temple complex also has entrance porches in North, and South. It has a sanctum, vestibule, pillared dance hall, Kalyan Mandpam and subsidiary shrines; all contained within a Parkrima enclosed by high walls.

The temple is axially aligned with the places that are associated with the time Lord Rama spent in Hampi, Kishkindha at that time; from its North porch Matanga hill is visible and from the east doorway Malyavanta hill is visible.

Amman Shrine and Kalyana-Mandapa

The subsidiary Amman shrine and the Kalyanamandapa are later additions to the temple complex as also is evident from the fact that they hide behind them some of the Ramayana Panels in the inner side of the courtyard wall. The panel on the Amman shrine carry carvings of Narsimha Avatar but they also continue Ramayana further with the additions of Lava-Kusa episodes.

Inspiration behind Hazara Rama Temple Design

This temple is one of the finest example of compact Dravida-Vimana style temple. Tamil territories were newly added in the Vijayanagar empire during this period, and this temple appears to be heavily inspired by the Tamil temple architecture; as evident in the succession of diminishing tower over its sanctum and even the concept of basement mouldings and frieze panels came from it.

Hazara Rama Temple from inside

After moving around the temple, we move inside. In Ardhamandapam, our attention is immediately drawn towards four finely polished, massive stone pillars in black stone – Dolerite to be precise. As Dolerite is not found in this part of Karanataka, the stone material for these pillars might have been brought from Western Karnataka.

The intricately carved pillars of the Mahamandap carry reliefs of all nine incarnations of Lord Vishnu – Balkrishna, Narsimha, Varaha, even Buddha and the future incarnation Kalki, which is often depicted riding a horse carrying Chakra, Conch, Sword and Shield in each of his four hands.

Along with the incarnations of Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesha and Devi Durga as Mahishasurmardini are also carved on these pillars. Originally, Lord Rama was worshiped in the sanctum, but now it is empty and the door to sanctum was locked.

The polished black stone pillars standout in the pink color surroundings and gives me the effect of cool surroundings in the hot day. Was it the reason why these pillars and the dolerite material was used by the architect in the interior of the temple.

How Hazara Rama temple is still so well preserved?

What puzzles me is that this temple still stands in very good condition. Was it restored! or it remained unscathed by the plunderers. Yes, the top of the temple with the royal patron is damaged, but rest of the temple is not been touched. With this unanswered question, in the next article, we will move to the Zenana Enclosure and the Elephant Stables.

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