Uddana Veerabhadra and the Chandikesvara Temple, Hampi

This article is about the Uddana Veerabhadra and the Chandikesvara Temple in Hampi – the location, connection with mythology, about the temples and the statue.

After visiting the Krishna Temple, we board an auto. The auto covers just around half a kilometer and after a turn we are in front of two temples, Uddana Veerabhadra Temple and the Chandikesvara temple, facing each other.

Uddana Veerabhadra Temple, Hampi

We decide to explore the Uddana Veerabhadra temple first. The first thing a visitor get to see before entering in the temple is a half-white-washed deep-stambha, and a sati-stone and a Hanuman idol beneath it.

Veerabhadra is the warrior deity usually carved protecting Lord Shiva. With time the protector deity of Lord Shiva became a protector deity for all.

In ancient times, the images of Veerabhadra were carved on hilltops and gateways to save the city and its citizens from evil spirits. Even this idol is believed to be carved within an open gateway through which passed the main road connecting Hampi to Kamalapur.

Uddana Veerabhadra Temple, Hampi: Mythology about the statue of Lord Veerbhadra

There is a legend about the appearance of this statue of Veerabhadra and its association with Lord Hanuman. When Lord Rama won the war against Ravana and was united with his beloved Sita, he was much pleased and thankful to all those who fought for him.

Lord Hanuman’s Boon from Lord Rama

In this state of immense gratitude, he asked everyone to ask for a boon. Hanumanji was confused, but then requested for a personal deity and a temple where he could worship the deity and gain more strength.

Rama smiled on this request and told him that he is already so mighty that he can’t suggest anyone and anything that can further enhance his strength. He then suggested him to worship Lord Shiva and ask for this boon from him.

Lord Hanuman worshiping and pleasing Lord Shiva

Hanumanji followed the suggestion and worshiped Lord Shiva. Shiva was impressed with his penance and asked for his desire. When he learnt of it, he too showed his helplessness and told him that only Lord Veerabhadra can help him in this pursuit.

Hanuman worshiping Veerbhadra

Hanumanji continued his penance to please Lord Veerabhadra. He too was pleased and appeared. When he learnt of Hanumanji’s desire he told him that within a few days he (Hanumanji) will find his (Veerbhadra’s) statue at the same place; it would be the idol that Hanumanji need to worship daily.

Several days later Hanumanji found a small statue of Veerabhadra at that place. He placed it on top of a hillock and started worshiping him.

It helped Hanumanji to gain more strength, but he also noticed that with the extra strength he was getting, the statue was growing as well. Initially, Hanumanji was unconcerned to it, but soon he realized that if left unchecked the statue would grow limitless.

Lord Hanuman learning to keep check on the growth of the statue of Lord Veerbhadra’s and on his strength as well

In order to keep its growth under check, Hanumanji constructed a small temple and was forced to put a heavy slab on this small temple to keep the growth of the statue under check. I guess the hidden message for Hanumanji was that desire for growth and strength beyond a limit is undesirable.

Who constructed the Uddana Veerabhadra Temple and the Chandikesvara Temple, Hampi?

It is believed that the same statue is housed in this temple. It is an impressive 3.6 m tall statue and because of the height of the statue it is also known as Uddana (meaning tall) Veerabhadra temple.

The temple is also known by its other name Muddu Veeranna temple and it is believed to be constructed by a Vijayanagar general Delavayi Jangamayya in 1545 (as per its non-mythological benefactor).

He was responsible for the construction of this temple along with the temple of Chandikesvara (the temple opposite to it). Veerabhadra temple is still an active center of worship and a popular venue among locals for weddings.

About the Uddana Veerabhadra Temple, Hampi – The Idol and Temple architecture

Inside the temple, there is a carved sati-stone depicting the general, Delavayi Jangamayya with his three wives. The temple has a spacious Garbhgrih, an Antarala and a pillared Mukhamandap.

The fierce idol of Veerabhadra is carved with bow and arrows in the upper hands, and sword and shield in the lower hands. This idol is the largest idol of Lord Veerabhadra found at Hampi that belongs to the Vijayanagara period. There is a small statue of goat-headed Daksha in attendance to Lord Veerabhadra, carved along with the tall statue of Veerabhadra.

The Unethical act

At this point of time, there is no-one in the temple and I consider it an opportunity to click the picture though there is a clear “No Photography Sign”. As I am about to press the shutter button, “thud ..”, a sudden strong push surprises and shakes me off.

I realize to my disbelief that it is my son Rachit, who despises my act and reminds me of the signage. Tanmay too joins his brother and adds it to the list of unethical acts of Papa.

The Story of Lord Veerbhadra’s Birth

For readers like me who do not know much about Lord Veerabhadra, here is the story of Lord Veerbhadra’s birth.

Daksha Ignoring Sati and Shiva for a Yagna

Once Daksha, son of Lord Brahma and father-in-law of Lord Shiva, conducted a Yagna. He was angry with Shiva for not respecting him at one occasion. So for this grand religious occasion, he invited all but ignored his own daughter Sati and her husband Lord Shiva.

Sati felt its an oversight at his father’s end and decides to go without Shiva

Sati could not believe that his father would not invite her for the occasion and thought and argued with Shiva that it was just an oversight as his father was too busy on the occasion. She decided to go alone to her father’s house to participate in the ceremony.

Shiva knew that it was a purposeful decision of his father-in-law, but bowed to Sati’s wishes. He did not come himself uninvited, but sent Nandi and other Ganas to accompany Sati so they can bring her back in case of any unpleasant event.

Sati Committing Suicide

Daksha was not pleased to see Sati coming home to participate in the ceremony. He neglected and ignored her. Sati was heart-broken that her father does not like Shiva, her husband, and neglected both of them.

She jumped in the yagna-vedi with a vow that she will take a re-birth to a father who will respect Shiva and she will marry Shiva again in the next birth.

Fight between Nandi and the Dakhsha’s Army

When Nandi and Shiva’s other followers, who came with Sati on the occasion, heard the news they attacked Daksha but were defeated and pushed-back. They returned back to Shiva and told him about the sad happenings.

Birth of Veerabhadra and Mahakali, and beheading of Daksha

Shiva got terribly angry after hearing the news and broke a strand of his hair and split it in two. Veerabhadra and Bhadrakali were born from this fragmented hair segment. Shiva ordered them to go to Daksha’s place and avenge the death of Sati. This time Daksha was defeated and furious Veerabhadra beheaded him.

The killing of Daksha generated complications, as the yagna left in between created and strengthened all sort of negative energies. Devatas were shocked at the turn of events and wanted things back to normalcy.

Daksha was revived with a Ram’s Head

Lord Brahma also prayed to Lord Shiva to forgive his son. They requested him to revive Daksha so the Yagna can be completed. By this time Shiva was a little pacified; he understood the gravity of the situation and revived Daksha by putting a ram’s head over his torso.

The reborn Daksha bowed to Shiva, completed the yagna and became an ardent devotee of Shiva’s incarnation- Veerabhadra.

So the Veerabhadra and Bhadrakali are male and female form of Shiva only; the two sides of a God who is also portrayed as Ardhanareeshwar.

Well, this temple is important for its spiritual aura, but there is not much to be seen from a tourist point of view.

Chandikesvara temple, Hampi

From here, we enter inside the Chandikesvara temple situated across the road towards its North-West. We have crossed this temple several times while rushing towards other destinations, and this temple with roaring Yalis trampling elephant under them and Vyala sculptures carved in its Mahamandapa, looked inviting.

This East facing temple has a sanctum, a vestibule and a mahamandapa. The pillared cloister covers the main and an Amman shrine. There are carvings of Vaishnav affinities, Balkrishna, Hanumanji, Yashoda maa churning milk, Garuda, Kamadhenu, Vamana-avtar on its pillars. It is believed that this temple was originally a Vishnu shrine.

With this, we move from here to the next set of monuments.

Click here to read about the Ardhanarishvara form of Lord Shiva

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